Interesting article. This point bothers me the most, because I feel it's so true deeply in my bones. When discussing Trump's team potentially losing the trial but winning political points, they say:

Practically, the appeals process will inevitably take time, and I doubt if Trump wins the election, he would be sent to state prison. So maybe in the long run, it’s not a terrible miscalculation.

I feel like even a guilty verdict still does not mean Trump will ever see consequences.