I think we agree - I'd have had no problem with a well-justified, carefully-explained "well, it depends on this, this and this". To just say "well, it depends" is lazy and unhelpful.

Of course, it could be an undercover Microsoft advertisement too, seeing as they're always banging on about providing lower TCO. Perhaps they're just hoping that managers will see an "independent" article as giving credibility to their claims... whoops, must keep control of my cynicism gland ;)