More or less what the article said:

> Start merging services until you come to the bare essentials that have to be discrete.

He's giving an heuristic for finding the right granularity of services - that is what is up for criticism, IIUC.

I totally agree with you, start "monolithic", SQL + a lightweight Python web framework for most simple apps.

> Start merging services until you come to the bare essentials that have to be discrete.

I thing GP advised to: start with a monolithic system and then split up the services as your system grows and as you feel the need.

That sounds more solid advice.