Yeah, I'm mostly with you. It isn't that the recipe is bad, but it is a weak one in comparison to any that aren't using a jar of roux, the adjudicate absolute easiest thing in cooking to do.

Only time a jar of roux is going to be a better option is when you don't have access to the ability to do it yourself. Like, maybe a dorm situation where you don't have the space and gear to cook. But the gif shows them browning stuff on a fill size stovetop, so why not do the roux?