Its not unusual for a magazine article to have errors, either because the writer didn't know what they were talking about, or because an editor took words out or otherwise changed the meaning of something. And sometimes experts will actually disagree...
I don't recall the article truckernix is referring to, but have no doubt errors occured. It's usually a good idea to check several sources on subjects like these.
I haven't read the rack and pinion conversion article, but I'm sure they are using u-joints on both sides of the slip joint to make this work. When calculating the added weight at least some of the steering shaft will be weighing on the front axle also in this arrangement.
