In my opinion, this article sounds like a "glossed over" account to cover up the extent of a few (maybe just one person's) ego. And from what I've heard from people actually there, it was way less professionally handled than this article indicates.

Pantheon was committing $140,000 overall to the event. That's a lot of money they could have poured into other marketing channels to reach the WordPress market. Rather than pour it into Google and Facebook's Ad coffers they chose to invest the bulk of it directly in the WP community. And quite honestly after being treated this way, Pantheon should look at other channels. And other sponsors should consider these warning signs as well.

But beyond sponsorship, the WP leadership's actions don't bode well for it's own future. As an agency we are now more cautious. In my experience, no open source software has a very good future of being a widespread business solution if it's subject to the emotional whims of a few people. We can't recommend clients base their web strategies on a platform led by volatility when there are other options available.

At the end of the day, most clients and end users don't care what technology their web solutions use -- as long as they work. The WP leadership needs to pick real battles not petty arguments. (In my opinion.)