That list is geared towards developers who don't have a strong background in cryptography and helping them choose a secure algorithm that is easy to implement. Because if you get it wrong, more vulnerabilities will be introduced.
Working around janky compliance standards is a whole separate topic.
Mercurial was my first DCVS and I loved using it, but I only touched on the basic features. I stopped using it when I switched jobs and to become proficient with git. I'll have to give it another try with one of my side projects.
For me, I tend to commit frequently, sort of like my obsession with constantly hitting CTRL-S while working in an IDE. Before I push my changes I like to squash the commits into more cohesive commits. If anything, I think it makes it easier on my colleagues for code review.
Working around janky compliance standards is a whole separate topic.