The example in the article is certainly extreme, and I do appreciate that some parents go over the top about these things, but organisation is essential for most families during school holidays. Not many people can take the full break off work so if you want to spend time with other families it has to be scheduled to coincide with each other's commitments. Playschemes are an essential part of the holidays for most parents, at least for a week.
I think it's rather unfair to assume that organisation is all about control because for most of us it isn't anything like that. Children don't become independent overnight and it's something that you have to teach them in stages, and some take longer than others.
I also think it's a good idea to continue with activities and classes that they go to during the holidays. It builds a sense of commitment and appreciation of other people's time for organising them (instructors etc). They don't learn that sort of thing by running feral for six weeks.
You have to have a certain amount of scheduling if you want your children to have a varied and enjoyable holiday. A lot of activities they may want to do have to be booked, you can't just turn up, and that inevitably means planning.
And some families HAVE to have a high level of structure because of special needs. We had a hanging-out day last Sunday and ds was beside himself by 3pm because he NEEDS to know what's happening next or he falls to pieces. I'd love to let my lad run free during the summer but he'd never cope with it, not at the stage he's at. Right now his safety is more important than anything else and structure is a significant part of that.
Like most things in parenting, it's about balance. I definitely agree with allowing for some boredom so that they can learn to entertain themselves, but all children need some form of structure, even during holiays.