Reminds me of Nassim Taleb's works. Reading and rereading the standard library is a good way to learn a language or get depth. I don't see how reading an actual implementation can be considered academic, as it is real-life engineering. It is not pseudocode or theory, some algorithms in Java and C++ are using some ugly shortcuts that only an engineer would find interesting while an academic would think it's heresy.

Cherry picking is 100% compatible with analysis, which is closed subjective logic, not open opportunistic logic. Plus I don't think the author is exactly trying to go head to head with your personal favorite method. Could be wrong though.