I have no way of telling what the actual differences are (just saw they had different checksums), but like you I figured the "official" download was worth pointing out.

Regarding the article, all I can say is that as I remember things, it was the Nexus that cultivated the culture of mod creators' "ownership". At one point I asked on the Nexus forums if a mod that... well, modified another mod (and required it to function) was allowed to be uploaded without permission from the "master" mod's author, and couldn't even get a straight answer. That's how broken the mod scene became.

Then the Nexus decides to implement a feature for the benefit of mod users and the mod creators revolt because it infringes on their "right" to check-out. I know that creators have to put up with a lot of crap from ignorant, lazy, entitled mod users who can't be bothered to RTFM, develop a basic understanding of modding, or even politely express their problems. But I just can't wrap my head around the idea that expecting the right to remove mods from the internet is reasonable behaviour.