I don't see anything click baity. It was, indeed, not easy to opt out. And this is for someone that knew they could.

" To figure out how to do so, I had to leave the boarding line, speak with a Delta representative at their information desk, get back in line, then request a passport scan when it was my turn to board"

That is a process that is not easily discoverable. And the "opt out" isn't announced as an something that even exists.