I think that's a really valid point and fair observation but perhaps too simplified. Put another way, had the Times failed at creating a successful paywall then all others could be assumed to be doomed to failure. Now that the Times has proven it's successful, can others borrow some or all of their approach? The answer is partially in your quote above I suspect. Just whacking up a paywall is likely not the answer. However, using your deep resources (relative to other sites and bloggers) to create a superior experience can create a sustainable business. Just as the Internet threatened their traditional business it also dramatically increased their reach in other ways.