While I applaud his effort, this is why wonderful movies aren't musically scored by the director or writer - they may know what they want, but that doesn't give them the ability to create it.
Like medicine "created by a school teacher".
If designers want so much that programmers get their fonts from them, they should try to create something that's suitable for programming. That does not seem to be happening now.
And, yes, I quite liked it. If I hear about it again when the author releases it (why didn't he already?), I'll probably try it.
I agree with your general point though, a collaboration between the "user" and "expert" will generally produce something superior; but sometimes there can even be a little bit of a liability having the other party around.
The school teacher thing is a poor example though - that's just marketing trying to make an appeal to authority. Something like if a teacher had designed a desk or chair would be better because their job gives them insight into that as opposed to say, a mail carrier.