To be honest, I don’t understand why his proposal is getting ~so much~ hate?

It is entirely plausible that VR (and other “artificially mediated interaction”) would not have the negative effects of solitary confinement.

It is entirely empirical question. And it can be solved (experiments on non-convict volunteers, if well-designed, would provide decent insight as to whether extended “VR/IT-mediated” rehab is associated with particularly dangerous and/or egodystonic effects)

Yes, essay is a mite over-optimistic, but it is not a policy document and should not be treated as such.

The proposal it suggests deserves serious consideration and careful empirical research, not an out-of-hand dismissal as “bad by design” (especially since there is, not to put too fine a point on it, absolutely no data that would suggest this proposal would not ~work better~ than current US prison system)