As is often the case, the article renders fine with JavaScript and CSS disabled. This sort of scenario is why I run uMatrix in whitelist mode, with JS/CSS always disabled by default. These technologies are net negatives to me, I only enable them on select websites and my browsing experience is more pleasant on average because of it.

JS sure, but what benefit comes from disabling CSS? This is the first time I've heard of anyone doing so.

Often obnoxious stuff like headers that follow you down the page are implemented in CSS. It also neatly deals with sites using gray on white text, absurdly narrow text columns, etc. It also neuters most cookie notices and similar BS that uses CSS to block visibility of the article until you remove it with ublock origin's element zapper. Instead of zapping things all the time on each new site I visit, I nuke it first and ask questions later.

I think it is also used for tracking people. https://github.com/Bogdaan/spycss

Or maybe he just likes content without flashiness and annoying sidebars, etc

Incompetent web design. CSS is a powerful tool of destruction, by taking it away from webdevs the web becomes much less broken.

I disable javascript like you do- completely different experience. Some sites seem to manage sort of pops though - I believed it must have been html5, but now I'll try css

Damn I never thought of doing it this way, how logical..

Every browser other than Chrome has a built-in Reader mode that just shows you the plain text of the article in your chosen width, color, and typeface.