The root issue is that they interpreted "the best" to be "the best at every single feature," which is completely ridiculous. The fact is that the Duke3d had an atmosphere, depth, and immersive-ness that most games since haven't matched. They definitely should have been able to release a game within a few years that was the best game for its time.
The comic touched on a good point, too. The controversy behind Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's airport massacre level went on for a little while but has since fizzled away-with that in mind, I can't see how long people will be really taken aback by this game mode.
Tycho at PennyArcade wrote a great piece about it yesterday: http://www.penny-arcade.com/2011/3/23/