I found the article interesting. I would add that the space environment will offer a means of accelerated technological development.
For example, imagine if we had a means of living in our sky- say a low tech solution like balloons was a viable "economic solution". How would that alter our technology and our society?
It would change transportation- emphasis would shift from hortizal travel to vertical travel. It would change your view- a simple example is roof tops would not be mostly ignored. And I'm sure there other changes in which this would tranform lifestyle and life as we know it in fundemental ways.
In comparison space would bring about far more dramatic changes then merely living in the sky. One of the most significant features of the Space environment is the vacuum. The ramification of this in terms of technology are enormous. The development of better computers, Nano-technology, fusion development, fission power, genetic engineering would be significantly affected if humans were living in Space. How humans move themselves and move "stuff" would be different. Cities would be different.
And it's not like the Earthlings would be separate from all this change, ideas and technology would interchanged. In a word Space would add diversity.