My own view is that being a vegetarian or vegan is not an end in itself, but a means towards reducing both human and animal suffering, and leaving a habitable planet to future generations.
I am not a vegetarian but I try not to eat too much meat - when I think about it. If tomorrow all meat consumption was prohibited, I would probably just shrug. Sure, I would miss a little bit dried meat from Valais and the occasional filet mignon. But given the positive impact on animal suffering and the environment, that would be well worth it.
But I agree with the author that it's not the meat itself, it's how we get to the meat. If there was a way to enjoy the taste without the pain, and no particular adverse health effects, I would see no reason not to eat meat at least occasionally. But of course that would be a personal choice.