Thanks to a shoutout, I saw a post a Daijobu (a blog which I really should be reading but never get around to), which looks at Miyazaki's legacy. I think his creations can be vulgarized further into few basics (e.g. in DS' terms, all historically developed MODEs can be collapsed further):

• Miyazaki hates or at best mistrusts all things military.
• Miyazaki loves old people.
• Miyazaki moves forward a spunky young heroine.

The relevant critique mostly circles around the above (there's a good example at Chizumatic) of only because Miyazaki allows main themes to override and displace the rest of the art. So, Spirited Away is my favourite, because it lacks the usual negative elements of hate and preachiness and this allows the rest of Miyazaki's talent to blossom.

BTW, I noticed the linked article at TNK back when it was published, but didn't have much to write about it. Indeed, what can be reasonably said to this:

To date, Princess Mononoke stands as his only animated work where the story was not only relevant to the audience (environmental issues are a cornerstone of our modern attitudes), but also presented with a strong focus.

I suppose when lead is legislated out of ammunition with the corresponding jump in costs, it certainly makes the environment relevant, not to mention forming a cornerstone or attitudes.

Tangentially, I never was in a Japanese school, but anime makes it very clear that the obnoxious environmental propaganda is a big part of Japanese education. When J2 poked fun of it, it was only done because the said propaganda existed. But lots of other anime series touch upon the subject in passing. For example, To Heart delivers a beautiful example of what J2 lampooned later.

Miyazaki not only preaches, but also taps into the feelings of indoctrinated.