The article is an okay survey of three ancient contemplations:

• Whether life is unconditionally worthwhile, duty-bound or otherwise
• Whether life is conditionally worthwhile
• Whether life is an unworthy pursuit/is (per some read-in nihilism) "ultimately" meaningless

In that way it's a totally sufficient pop-philospphy article. These articles are easy reading for those cursorily interested in the classical problems. I would have preferred reading the more ambitious divergence you suggested, for sure.