The answer to “what diet” is “keep trying them until you find one that works, then stick with it.” There is an infinite number of totally functional combinations.
I don't think people want that particular diet to work. Granted, it's got its downsides. And you can do it in a very unhealthy way. But being 40 pounds overweight was probably worse than intermittent lower-carb with healthy(er) options like chicken caesar salads, stuffed peppers made with turkey, or tuna salad on celery. It just let me eat less calories without as much hunger.
If something isn't working, then sure, look to the science for potential solutions and try them out. Nothing, however is guaranteed.
If you're not getting the results you're hoping for, move on. Conversely, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, even if someone out there is telling you that you're doing it wrong.
For example I have a weakness for sugar cereal. I know it's on the bad list of sweet, ultraprocessed foods. I also know that, as a pre-workout meal, I perform great after crushing a half-box of Trix or Captain Crunch.