Gah, stop abusing the word punt. The headline is nonsensical.
Punt does not mean avoidance. It has much closer associations to "attempt" (punter, plus rugby usage).
I totally agree with the rest of the article, why shard or otherwise distribute your database before being required? Although I think I would build my DB as shard 1 of 1 to allow for the future case.
You're thinking of British English. In America, punt means avoid, and most people here probably think of an American football punt--which is the voluntary end of a failed offensive possession--so suggests you're giving up for now and will try again later. We probably bastardized it, sure, but that ship has sailed.
Punt does not mean avoidance. It has much closer associations to "attempt" (punter, plus rugby usage).
I totally agree with the rest of the article, why shard or otherwise distribute your database before being required? Although I think I would build my DB as shard 1 of 1 to allow for the future case.