Why the 'probably'? Of course, no VPN-provider should be trusted at face value, but do you know of any sources that claim that Private Internet Access is in fact an elaborate honeypot?
Looking at the argument though, even if it is a honeypot blowing it is a one-shot deal. The users are never going to trust PIA nor any other VPN that makes similar claims ever again. That means that they probably wouldn't spring the honeypot, if it is one, for anything but the biggest fish.
Frankly, I think you're all splitting hairs. Most of us understood the point he was making even if the phrasing of that sentence didn't flow as well as you may have liked.
One shot? Backdoor and reconstruct in parallel.
I guess that sums up exactly how trustworthy they are.
If they are willing to do that, even TOR isn't real protection due to the fact it can and will be breached in the event of an active attack by malicious nodes on both ends of the circuit.
A VPN you can buy relatively anonymously [e.g. disposable gift cards bought with cash] and use with common sense [e.g. Not via your home LAN] are an effective privacy tool.
However, 99% of people aren't going to go through that level of effort which makes them nearly useless for privacy purposes.
A MitM at the local wifi shop is going to know you are and what you are doing.
A MitM at a VPN you paid for with a gift card you paid with cash is just going to know which wifi shop you were at. If you never go back, odds are they can't figure out which customer you were.