Even the author takes for granted that the experiences are what is important. But instead of buying the experiences directly, like the restaurant meal with frie

Even the author takes for granted that the experiences are what is important. But instead of buying the experiences directly, like the restaurant meal with friends, the author is making a point that by having bought a large living room and a well equipped kitchen we can use our things to have the experience instead. And I think this is uncontroversial. The slogan "buy experiences, not things" is just a way to point out that the experience is the important part, and that the things, if any, just are means to that.