I read it just as a sort of throw away line in the article. But you're right, going all in isn't rare. In tournament play when your stack size is below certain thresholds & you're in certain positions relative to the blinds [1] going all in is the proper play to make 100% of the time, so it's quite common.

For cash games, which most people are less familiar with, going all in is still generally based more in math than "commitment" or being a man. If the way you've played a hand gives you a certain range, you can estimate what bet sizes your opponent thinks he can profitably call. Beyond the psychology, going all in is just a means to make your opponent commit a math error, that long-term would be an unprofitable course of action.

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-ratio -though this is a very generic explanation that doesn't go into position.