Yeah, it seems to me like the author just wants a simple HTTP client for Rust that prioritizes simplicity over raw performance and is unhappy with the fact that reqwest isn't that. Though as developers we often wish it were otherwise, given a choice between implementation simplicity and performance most people will choose the latter (as long as correctness isn't sacrificed). So that's why reqwest is more popular and is the first choice that appears when searching for [rust http client] on Google.
Thankfully, ureq exists for those who prefer implementation simplicity, and that's what the author should probably choose.
That's my main goal - and Rust seems like the language where we can have our cake and eat it too! The standard library has some amazingly performant data structures and algorithms.
Talking to one of the hyper developers, a lot of this machinery was made before it arrived in the stdlib. My response was, "neat, so we can delete the custom stuff now, right? :P" but I suppose any change carries some risk with it.
Thankfully, ureq exists for those who prefer implementation simplicity, and that's what the author should probably choose.