I was hoping that he would also lay out the strategies that he DOES consider viable. It's hard to compare SEO and the allegedly superior alternatives without even knowing them.
Because, if there were no superior alternatives to SEO (just for argument's sake, I don't believe that), then SEO would still be a viable marketing strategy, despite its flaws.
I would say some alternatives might be: CPC/CPM advertising, getting articles written about your site, lead generation, social sharing, social promotions (think Dropbox), affiliate programs, or just making a product that is so awesome people tell their friends/coworkers about it
Because, if there were no superior alternatives to SEO (just for argument's sake, I don't believe that), then SEO would still be a viable marketing strategy, despite its flaws.