The example of someone only saving 6% with a 3% match during their entire career and winding up with a whopping $320k is awful.
The person doing that (6% + 3% match) is
pretty darn close to doing what the traditional advice is (10-15% gross towards retirement .. he's doing 9%).
That just tells me the traditional advice needs to change. Instead of telling people 10-15% (knowing people will always do the minimum, or a bit less even), the advice should be 20-30%.
That won't get them an early retirement, MMM (or ERE) style, but it'll at least get them
a retirement. Unlike this silly 9% nonsense.
The standard needs to change, people need to start hearing 20-30% in the mainstream. Because the stories like your article above are all too common, sadly.