Maybe I am getting confused here but I read his post as the arbitrary data being accepted as valid transactions then validated by nodes. Core accepting these as valid, correct?

I think the operative word in his note was "Trying" to be a sovereign bitcoiner. Node runners aren't all availed of the knowledge that by running default setting of the MOST popular bitcoin program, they are to accept spam.

Sure we can say "Get good scrub," or we can chastise the spammers, which way Bitcoin man?