Dehydration absolutely can kill you during a race. Ask most (if not all) race medics and/or first-aid volunteers and they'll tell you dehydration is by far the bigger issue at marathons.
You took that quote out of context. If you're an elite marathoner trying to run sub-3:00 pace, then I stand by my comment to get as much water as your stomach can handle. Hydration is the limiting factor.