You cannot beat thermodynamics. Surplus = weight gain.
Not surprising to me . Of course, if one or two meals a day helps you adhere to a diet, go ahead. All diets entail having to change this differential to work, to undo the surplus, so either the input or output side of equation.
In other words, when you say "CICO doesn't actually help people perform the calorie deficit part" that's observably false. We can observe that tracking calories has helped a non-zero number of people achieve calorie deficit.
I think what's more important for anyone looking to lose weight is understanding that most people will at some point gain that weight back. To me, it's important for people on the quest to lose weight to understand that gaining weight back isn't a a personal failure, it's expected and statistically likely. The only failure you can make is not trying again.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-people-diet-lose-weig...
Everything comes down to discipline.
I don't do IF. I just do calorie counting with an app. In other words, I just do CICO. This research is a validation that I don't need to do IF to lose weight. It feels smarter and better to just eat at normal times and then count the calories. Less social life impact. Less hunger pains. Actual proof that you're eating fewer calories than you need.
I can just go to a barbecue on the weekend and eat whatever if that's my one meal for the day.
I find it much harder if I have to plan to leave room for other meals.