the argument being made by the article is that microsoft 95 was better than operating systems now

operating systems aren't where most innovation happens, obviously, nor should they be, but they have made progress in usability, security, performance, etc. technology has certainly made incredible progress in 30 years

cynicism and denigrating everything is easy but it stops being cool after about age 16

Not everything. Selectively. Win95 was a marvel of tech at its time. Ubuntu and other linux desktop attempts are in a sorry and shameful state.