It appears as though WhatsApp desktop is basically a wrapper on web.whatsapp.com as well.

I assumed as much, and yet still no Linux version. I don't use WhatsApp anyway but it's still disappointing.

Way to undermine the hard work of talented developers. Is that envy? You should see all the features its offer before calling it just a "wrapper".

I think you're reading a bit too much into his comment. It's true that the phrasing can seem dismissive, but I don't think it's meant as such to that extreme of a degree.

It being a collection of wrappers is either true or not and is not necessarily a value judgment, but a technical detail.

It IS a wrapper around the web version. To be fair, the web version is very solid. It even warns you when your phone's battery is running low.