Having read the article, there's no mentioning of reviving a particular visual / graphic style. On the contrary, the author explicitly states:

> It's important not to confuse the web revival with artistic styles such as Vaporwave;

Instead, the author tried to capture a set of first principles that seem to drive a more broad revival of early online culture. The first of those principles they list is:

> Creativity comes first - They value creative expression and the ability to customise and decorate their digital spaces.

Which agrees with what you're saying.

Arguably, the author's chosen design might inadvertently detract from that message. Then again, it's their personal website. They're calling the shots. This is how this individual chooses to express themselves. And that's just every bit as valid as what anyone else does, which would be a core tenet in support of online freedom.