Yes, there does seem to be a skewed representation of the inner city or inner west. I think (although I’m purely speculating as well) that you’re right the writer likely lives around that area. In fact journalism for the past 20 years seems to have conflated “news” with personal opinions (I know this is expressly noted also an opinion piece but I feel it generally) and then presented as factual.

Perhaps we do need as many “metro” stations as possible for the most populous areas within a 10km radius, but just many more heavy rail stock outside those areas with degrees of “express-ness”.

In Paris, Tokyo and New York, for example, their metro/subway is really just useful for the most central areas, then the heavy rail has a variety of (using Tokyo terminology) super express, limited express, express, local to balance time and speed vs distance… you just need to get on the correct train.

Zetland seems to belong to the populous / dense / central area, but as do all the other hubs around Sydney… maybe each “village” needs its own metro network, connected by heavy rail between them, like a hub-and-spokes system?