It's my take on how the author comes off as. You're free to disagree, even if the crux of your argument is as silly as chanting "RTFA". It's good that you're passionate about your defense of the author but unfortunately you haven't convinced me.
So in this case, RTFA becomes really important and not some "silly chant." Because instead of reacting to what they actually wrote, you've instead concocted a story about this person in your head, and then attempted to belittle them for it.
I challenge you to quote any line from the article where the author says anything remotely "full of themselves" or "crass." You won't be able to do it, because it doesn't exist, and you're just being shamefully inflammatory for no reason.