You’ll probably be surprised to find out there is _still_ a market for hand-forged nails. It’s not a large market, but as I understand it they behave differently in wood, due to their square profile. I think some of it is chasing authenticity, but also functional differences, which usually aren’t worth the price premium.
I don't know about the article, but I remember being told by a blacksmith that blacksmiths' nails are much rougher than machine-made ones, so they have much more friction and can't be removed without destroying whatever they're stuck in.
Ref: https://blog.lostartpress.com/2015/07/30/forged-forged-nails...