Thanks for this. I enjoyed the video, and agree completely with the basic takeaway.
I don't think that there is any question that well-deigned dampening devices are superior to spikes and cone designs, and for the reason that Mark describes: the latter are actually coupling devices.
While I believe that Townshend are likely the best dampening devices on the market, I use IsoAcoustics GAIAs, as like Mark in the video, I have stand mounted speakers. Interesting, Karl-Heinz Fink, the brilliant, in my view, designer of my Fink Team KIM speakers, employed an uncommon approach to the interface between the stand and speaker: they are integral. In other words, the stands, which are neither very heavy, nor filled with lead or sand, are firmly attached to the speakers themselves at the factory. This design allows users to employ any types of footers that they like to the stands, and mitigate vibration issues in that manner.
So, I use the GAIAs as feet, and to excellent effect. The difference between the sound with spikes, and the GAIAs, is quite clear. Less smearing, better imaging, and tighter bass are all noteworthy.
As for the Audio Science crew, it's hard to tell what took that discussion off the rails. But given what I believe to be well understood about the distinctions between coupling and damping devices, which is the essence of the video, I don't know what serious objections might have been made relating to Mark's conclusions.