A modal error being the very first thing every new user sees is pretty hard to excuse even for a MVP.

Have you read the article or used the app? Broken is exactly what it is, and it's a Google product. So yes, I'd assume that's exactly what's being said.

"The native Gmail app isn’t really shit... it’s just buggy as fuck and extremely underwhelming."

I am not saying it is good app. It is weak and disappointing. I am saying that the philosophy MG is promoting where you must get everything right the first time is a distracting and unattainable goal.