The real problem isn't that the line ignores cognitive research, it's that the rest of the essay is built around a statement that is on fundamentally shaky logi

The real problem isn't that the line ignores cognitive research, it's that the rest of the essay is built around a statement that is on fundamentally shaky logical ground. See fallacy of equivocation. The OP intentionally misinterpreted 'achievement' in the context of video games (simple trophies or indicators that you're playing a game in the intended way) and applied the abstract, idealized meaning of achievement instead. While I more or less agree with the intent of his essay, writing that's based bad analogies and fallacious statements just end up sounding like fluff.