The disable isn't a disable of notifications. It disables the airtag from reporting its status as an anti-stalking measure. So it wouldn't work for anyone.
What's the distance and time required to get a stalking notification? I presume close enough that it would be hard to do on the street, but potentially of use in a place like a cafe or an airport screening line?
If you've stolen the macbook, you can just... check the bag for airtags and throw them away?
I suppose disabling it first prevents them from potentially tracking the thief for those first 100m to the nearest trash box, but it also has a good chance to alert them.
That's why the dog airtag in the article continues to go off, when they take the dog on a walk, it follows the same path, then ends up back at the shared house. Their case would be solved by using an iCloud family plan, but they don't want to.
OHHHH okay, that makes more sense. That was the part of the puzzle that was confusing me. Thanks!