No they didn't, clickbait topic, they just used the cardboard to inspect the heart image in 3D.
Indeed, also no mention of https://sketchfab.com which is the platform used to display and share the 3D model
It seems to me that the major issue that Cardboard solved is navigation in a 3d environment. Using a mouse or controller to move around, aim, and shoot in a 3d world is natural to those of us who play 3d games. But, these actions aren't intuitive at all, unlike looking around while wearing a VR headset.
Yes! I got a Google Cardboard headset for Xmas and give my in laws a try. They don't usually get tech or show any interest in new gadgets. But every one of them was bowled over by Cardboard VR and grasped it immediately.