I understand where you’re coming from regarding the tone of the memo, but I think it’s important to keep in mind that this was not a public critique. The author

I understand where you’re coming from regarding the tone of the memo, but I think it’s important to keep in mind that this was not a public critique. The author mentions in a reddit post that this was originally a confidential internal document, and written in the context of a very small group of like minded coworkers who knew each other personally. I have certainly said or written things to coworkers of mine, who I count as respected friends and confidants, that if taken out of context and published for all to read would sound obnoxious if not reprehensible. The author had no idea that this private critique would be read by the general public 40 years later.