Your comment speaks about awkwardness derived from the difficulties of giving a presentation. The article speaks about awkwardness derived from potential ergonomic issues.
You've made some good points, but the two are not mutually exclusive.
This article raises points that I've been wondering about myself. The thinner cross-section and lack of non-interactive space in front represent a significant potential gripping issue, at least for those with larger hands or arthritis. These aren't present in iPhone shapes since you can alternatively grip it with your hand wrapped from the left to right. Anecdotally speaking, when playing my Nintendo DS Lite for longer periods, my hands cramp up from clutching the thinner form factor. This makes me wonder how I would be holding an iPad comfortably.
How would you expect to hold yours?