I think what the author meant to say is to ignore your critics. No one ruined the author's love of cooking other than the author taking their statements to heart.
If you told someone “I’m using this because I’m disabled so it’s easier”, no one is going to second guess that. But for the average person, they are better off doing things the suggested way.
I used to use things like pre grated cheeses until someone told me they are vastly inferrer to grating it yourself so I switched and my cooking improved.
Sure, some people make a song and dance about it and call ingredients dried cat vomit but they are correct that fresh is much better if you can manage it. And even the hardcore home cooks will look the other way on things like frozen puff pastry.