I don't read a whole lot of stuff re: ND. Basically it is Hansen and the Athletic which is mostly Sampson.
In some ways I agree with you on Sampson.
While functionally he offers some good information, he accepts a low bar for the program. His outlook is fashioned by the fact that he is a bit of a homer (he clearly drinks the Kelly Kool-Aid) and he appears to accept a lower vision of what ND football should be. He almost sighs in someone asks a question/makes a comment that suggests ND is underperforming what should be its expectations.