The tone is perfectly aligned with the false question, which is formulated in an offensive manner. It is a paraphrase of the question that is frequently asked in this forum, but put into the mouth of a budget-controlling wife instead of the forum-member husband. It might be second degree humor, but it is just humor after all.
And the answer is very true (especially my quote!
). It is in the same vein as his previous "loosen up, stereo devotees" from November newsletter.
This is always the danger with irony, it might be taken too literally, especially after a bad day with auditors!