I'm wondering if the comments in this would be the same if it said '/users/ first, then architecture, then tools'. Or even 'purpose, approach, technique'.

When I read it I wasn't taking it as instruction about the chronically ordering but more a principle above the primacy of factors - what drives the process. I can see good projects iterate through them together but I feel I've had better results when a clear articulation of the user needs provide the momentum.