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I think the "taping" concept is an over simplification, and they actually used the correct basic materials and methods, they simply violated policy by not being supervised by someone qualified to do the taping.
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I don't quite read it the same way you do. No where do they indicate that 'taping' is a normal procedure. In fact they say the opposite:
"This month's unorthodox handling of the unstable explosive"
Calling the handling 'unorthodox' indicates that the 'taping' method is NOT normal procedure.
Later on in the article they clearly state that 'taping' the explosives was a 'mistake':
"Conway said taping the explosives together was one of several mistakes made by Pantex officials that risked an explosion."
Yes, Pantex officials did 'play down' the risks, but what do you expect from them? You don't really think they are going to admit what they did was dangerous, do you? They are going to mitigate their mistakes as much as possible.
"Failing to have experts who had developed the procedure watch the taping and removal to try to spot any problems."
What they are saying is that the experts developed the procedure OF DISMANTLING WEAPONS not the procedure of TAPING IT TOGETHER.
Yes, media can and do blow stories out of proportion, but that doesn't mean that you swing the pendulum the other way and completely blow off the risks.
Read the article carefully and you will realize that while the actual risk of a nuclear explosion was low, this was not 'normal' procedure.
