I understand your considerations, but the article has nothing to do with software-as-a-service type 'clouds'. This is purely on the infrastructure-on-demand and platform layers, and as such actually new, as you also agreed with. Sorry if I am getting a bit technical but Clouds and REST happen to be very close to my research subject. I am one happy bunny today seeing their combination put forward by a major player.

Another thing to keep in mind that this is Tim Bray we are talking about. He can hardly be considered a peddler of hype.