monerod --proxy 127.0.0.1:9050 or add proxy=127.0.0.1:9050 to the monerod.conf file then its running behind Tor. Is that difficult?

What they mean is that Monero nodes are not made to accept INCOMING connections via Tor. You can proxy transactions via a hidden service but that's it.

Making a new wallet per transaction is schizo IMO but your criticisms about having to make new addresses and the like are all REQUIREMENTS for Bitcoin on-chain even to the same vendor. You can reuse the same address with the same person with Monero's and there will be no on-chain link still since each address is a stealth address similar to BIP 352 addresses.

Running a Monero node is best practice but even using a remote node offers superior privacy than most on-chain and lightning Bitcoin setups.

Its evident to me that you've no experience with Monero usage as you'd know everything I'm describing here by using the official Monero GUI wallet or the like.

Please do proper journalism by using the protocol you criticize. I've extensively used and researched lightning at this point thus giving me true insight to the benefits and limitations.