I was able to read the article by opening it on a browser I rarely use. But even then, an email ask isn't "tracking", and you can always use a throwaway account if you want. As the article itself suggests, use a different email for each service you sign up for.

The NYT is a content website in a sea of content websites. Getting you on their email list is valuable in the way that getting you to install their app is valuable; they can send you notifications and a few free articles that can maybe upsell you into a subscription.

They have no choice but to do this because we still think text and pictures on the internet should be free. We've come around to paying for music and videos, but it still seems too much of a hurdle for traditional news outlets.

Or click the "Reader Mode" in Firefox? (YMMV).