Scholarly kitchen

I recently noticed this provocative post by Kent Anderson, Publisher at AAAS/Science. I understand the individual words he uses, but am having trouble believing that I correctly understand his breath-taking claims.

To take one example from a crucial point in his argument, Anderson writes

We can no longer depend on the scarcity of print or the difficulties of distance or barriers of professional expertise to narrow access down to experts with a true need.

I think this means something like

The inadequacy of our technology is no longer sufficient to mask our reliance on appeal to authority in lieu of demonstrable competence.

But surely that’s not possible, it is?