I pay far less for AWS than I ever did for the providers in this article. Clearly YMMV depending on your workload and also how well you optimise for a cloud providers strengths. Hence making broad statements is unhelpful. There's a place for AWS/GC/Azure, and also for the likes of Vultr/Do and also for rolling your own. It all depends on what you need to achieve. There's no one size fits all.
There is also a large number of providers well below the prices of DO and Vultr as well. That are just as big, more profitable, and provide you with a better product and service.
Its crazy to me how many smart people don't realize they are only looking at the most expensive options out there.
It's like thinking the Ferraris and Porsches are your only two options for getting from point a to b
