The people that develop git also implemented rebase and especially interactive rebase. And added options to make rebase the default for pulls. Perhaps it is you that doesn't understand Linus' points and what they do and do not apply to?
I understand rebase vs merge invokes strong feelings (including in myself), which is exactly why imposing them on others is extremely annoying. Perhaps we just do as we like, but don't presume to know better than everyone else?