This is like saying "I don't understand how watching a movie is any more effective than just looking at a script."

Not everybody has access to the script. Not everyone has time or capacity to take that script and turn it into a movie in their head. Scripts tell you a lot more than you need to know. Scripts aren't designed for audiences.

The list probably goes on but hopefully you get the point.

A lack of cited sources in an article doesn't necessarily imply that its false.