That’s a reason not to use figure dashes, which aren’t the same thing as en-dashes.

I find it unlikely that the comment was typed on a typewriter, or sent over a teletype. Computers and phones make it easy to type em-dashes if you want to do that. No sub-par alternatives are needed.

> No it isn't; double-hypens are a great alternative to an em dash and are interpreted as such by many people and some software. GP's argument is for the grammatical functionality of differentiating dashes, not the specific symbols used.

Use ;

Works just fine

> Use ;

Comma, not semicolon, is the usual alternative to em-dashes for setting off asides, semicolons set off independent clauses.

Semicolons are often better just replaced by periods. I sometimes use them but I've had at least one editor who refused to use them for news-oriented copy.

Not sure if a deliberate joke but those are two independent clauses so should've used a semicolon :-) (between "asides" and "semicolons")