> a refreshingly forward looking idea
What?
"a rigorous defense, in which the student explains the topic to their examiners until they are satisfied."
is exactly how PhDs were awarded for hundreds of years.
Even my BSc in Applied Physics (1977) had a viva voce that was a substantial fraction of the final exam.
I am not implying that this is a new idea and I don't believe the author did either. If you read the full article, the context is clear.
The author is re-emphasizing the importance of thesis defense old school style and highlighting that being familiar with one's own material rigorously should still be a requirement.
Everything that leads up to the thesis defense perhaps changes signficantly.