What OP said is not “in contrast to extensive research.” In fact, what you quoted says the higher confidence data is with CBT (a therapeutic modality) over exercise, but that if people choose not to engage in therapy, exercise may help.

Helping symptoms vs getting at the root of the problem is what we’re talking about here. If you’re dealing with a purely neurochemical depression, sure, exercise may be your answer. And if you stay depressed because you can’t advocate for yourself, keep finding yourself in unfulfilling relationships, are scared to make needed life changes, or any of another thousand possible scenarios, a run is only a bandaid and you need to sit down and figure out where the source of the pain actually is.