In fact when in "learning" mode you probably shouldn't use an LLM. Same reason why you don't immediately jump to a calculator when learning multiplication. Yes LLMs are more powerful than a calc, but at least you could have arrived at the same/similar result manually if you wanted to spend the time

No one is "forcing" you to drive a car to get to work, either. You could walk 20 miles if you live somewhere without decent public transit.

My view is that the author is talking about having a knowledge of career-relevant skills, developed for free.

If you can't develop the skills to be competitive in an interview without using LLMs, then you are forced by societal factors to use the LLMs.

was it developed for free? he has a computer, which i'm assuming he paid for. and you can run LLMs locally. and those will catch up eventually.

there has always been a moat, with varying levels of depth. do you have electricity? do you have a computer? can you afford internet?

Yes but we could be transitioning from a time when the best tools are free to a time when they decidedly aren't.