This is a big win when you use ESI, so your actual page content is cached separately from your header information. You can even push the decision about which asset links to use out to the edge. Goooooo Varnish!
"I won’t go into detail about how to actually accomplish this, because the truth is, this won’t work either. " => the truth is.. you fail ;)
But yeah, nice loading graph and +1 for the mathematical/logical alternative solution.
Good article