I don't think his comment was in jest. There isn't another actor that would select to play the role of Jobs. Regardless if he already played the part. Ashton, however, has higher appeal to the masses compared to Noah, which will ultimately create a higher probability of a box office success.

I think Noah Wyle would present the Dean Cain problem: he's an actor who's suited to the role, but because he's a TV actor who actually played the role in a low-budget TV production, anyone making a major motion picture would want to get someone "better". This, among other things, is why "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" veteran Dean Cain was never seriously considered to appear in a Superman movie, unlike A-list "talent" like Nicholas Cage or (not even joking) Will Smith.