Yeah, can't say I agree with his 'print early and often' methodology. Agree with Andrew that, while not perfect, soft-proofing saves a LOT of paper and ink.
He's only suggesting the 'desaturate' method as a starting point for people new to b&w conversions and does say that there are more complex (read better) ways of doing it.
Have to say I just don't see what people are so chuffed about when it comes to SEP. Yes, I have tried it and I don't find it does anthing I can't do myself. It's obscenely expensive for what you get (like all Nik products). But I guess they've paid enough 'celebrity photographers' to use it and shill for it so the masses buy it. Like the swallows to Capistrano or maybe more like lemmings off a cliff.