This is actually the most logical explanation for what’s going on with the shutdown. Keep everyone arguing about the “wall” when the real objective is to blow up government agencies.
I agree that the shutdown isn't just about border security. Trump is a reality tv star first and foremost, and he needs to command the narrative.
As long as the entire news cycle is focused on his decision to shut down the government unless he gets a border wall, then they're not talking about...
1. The Russia investigation.
2. The midterm election he just lost.
3. The botched Syria withdrawal.
4. The democratic House majority issuing subpoenas for his tax returns or investigating ethical lapses.
5. The upcoming census and gerrymandering issues.
6. More criminal convictions of his senior staff.
7. Stock market declines.
8. His marital infidelities.
9. Anyone's announcement of their 2020 candidacy.
10. The bipartisan proposals to reform US immigration.
11. His inability to find or retain cabinet secretaries.
12. The failure of his tax reform bill and his ballooning deficit spending.
...
I could go go, but you get the point. Basically, there is basically no good news for Trump out there right now, so he minimizes the damages by keeping everyone as focused as possible on one specific issue, which he can at least try to blame on someone else.
I'm not so worried about the possibility raised in that article you linked, that furloughed federal workers will not be called back. They will absolutely called back, most of them within a month, whether they are getting paid or not. Employees are deemed "essential" and forced to work without pay whenever their work is necessary to protect life or property. No matter what your jobs is, it probably can't go more than a few weeks before your absence starts costing your employer some serious financial losses. Short term absences are recoverable. Indefinite absences will cause billions of dollars in damages in pretty short order.