Because it is simply incorrect. I have been using ruby since 2005 or so. Static types were never relevant or needed in the slightest here. The various claims by the type afficionados camps could easily be disproven and rejected, but that never stopped them from trying to ruin other languages.

> But I don’t think appreciating modern static typing is just evangelism.

But it is evangelism, because the type-addicted devs want to slap on types on ruby. That is evangelism. They try to change an existing language to their world view and narrative. And you can not talk to them because their brain is deadlocked here. This is why the person you replied to, is correct here.