Richard Gilbert's article is fantastic, and I'm surprised it was published in a newspaper. I mean, it's stuff that we all know about on the forum, but not many people* outside of transportation planning/engineering can make the conclusion that a smaller station can be compensated by more frequent, automated trains. At any rate, we are constrained by the fact that we have to build 4 car stations - or something at least as long as the existing Sheppard subway.
I am also glad that Gordon Chong is at least being partially honest in telling people that Sheppard cannot work unless there's massive upzoning. Of course, Sheppard won't work unless there's road tolls, firm government commitment and probably a massive tax hike, but he can only push the average voter so far. Doug Ford (so, Rob Ford, by proxy) really stabbed Chong in the back when he dismissed the road tolling option as "nonsense", so I don't see why Gordon should play nice, or at all. The Fords have this uncanny ability to throw the people who work for them under the bus. It's a very high school locker room move, and I'm surprised more of these people don't stand up for themselves when this happens.
*I once remember this guy on the subway at rush hour complaining about the standing room only capacity. He replied by saying "Man, the TTC is so stupid. If they put more chairs [sic] in, less people would have to stand". Logic isn't exactly the forté of the average Joe.