Who said anything about "only"? The article says:

> No one who considers themselves interested in the inner lives of animals, the wonders and mysteries of the natural world, can eat cephalopods in good conscience.

The article never says other animals are less deserving of care. The author is just particularly interested in octopus, and is appealing to the trait of intelligence.

Maybe it beats "because they're cute"?

(FWIW, I eat meat and think squid are delicious. Just posting a related link to see what discussion comes of it.)

I actually kill lobsters with a knife before eating them.

Argh. Horror.

I care about plants, therefore I do not eat them.

Many plants prefer you eat them as a method of seed propagation. If you care about plants eat their seeds and crap them on the forest floor...