I think you may want to re-evaluate your cynicism. If you read the article they mention that baked tiered cakes for weddings are stale and mostly ineadible. I can believe this. I have baked a few layer cakes and anything more than a few thin layers (enough to make a good topper) is a serious challenge. This is pragmatism and guest enjoyment over deception.

I’d take the fresh sheet cake over a week old repeatedly frozen and thawed cake.