Yes, the article clearly indicates MS stated purpose here was to ensure that an end user is presented with the default selection options and their choice is respected, regardless of administrator actions outside the user interacting with the settings panel. MS is not trying to force everyone to use Edge.
They aren't talking about system administrators. They are talking about 3rd party software presenting a privilege escalation prompt (administrator access) and changing your default browser without you knowing about it
It’s not that’s it’s a problem per se, it’s that MS thinks it might leave them liable to punitive action under the DMA. While i’m not convinced whether MS is being honest or if it’s a bit of malicious compliance/dark pattern stuff, I fully believe that there’s some spite layered in there from the 90s regardless.