I think it actually makes quite a bit of a difference if 20 years later the author still does not understand the actual problem and solution she is using as an

I think it actually makes quite a bit of a difference if 20 years later the author still does not understand the actual problem and solution she is using as an example. It actually does undermine her argument that people make mistakes, learn from them and grow etc if the lack of growth is still in evidence 20 years later in the singular example under consideration.