editor-surveyor: "Way beyond mere fiction."
Yes, popular science writing can be surprisingly unscientific, and this article is an example.
But nobody would care in the least about an ugly little critter from hundreds of millions of years ago, unless, unless, it's said to be a "first human ancestor", now we have some interest.
Click bait is the term, I think.
In fact, it could be a human ancestor, that case can be made based on its similarities and differences with other fossils.
And if it is, that's pretty interesting.
But it just as well might not be, so actual ancestors of vertebrates from that time period are yet to be found.
Regardless, it's good work and an interesting hypothesis.
You, of course, don't have to "believe" it, since no real scientist does.
Hypotheses do not require "belief".
If you have an interest, see post 43. Unless you are totally ignorant and terminally biased, Gould’s book will give you tons of facts that were developed from the hands on fossil record by the cream of the crop.
Most won’t read it because they fear being struck by lightening or worse, talked about at church.