We've seen that article and discussed it. Been there many times before. (BTW - not that it's right or wrong, but you have to ackowledge on some level, a possible bias from the TDR website, as it is obviously Cummins focused, which would then lead one to suspect they "favor" Valvoline, whether intentionally or not ...).
Regarding the topic at hand; as always, knowing the inputs are good, but knowing the results are what's most impressive. In other words, VOAs are interesting, but UOAs are telling. All of the major brands have plenty of good UOAs to show excellent performance on this site, and likely a bad one here and there (not always directely attributed to the oil).
It's a matter of analyzing your operating and maintenance patterns, and then selecting a lubricant to satisfy your needs. No one in their right mind would run dino HDEO for a 25k mile OCI in a 3 gallon sump engine with a Fram OCOD filter. But conversely, it would be foolish to run Amsoil DEO with an EaO filter for 5k mile OCIs. One is foolish, the other hugely wasteful.
If you're going to run "normal" maintenance patterns (as defined by the OEM) and operate in "normal" environments, then dinos will fill the bill quite adequately, and there are lots of quality brand names to choose from.
Going all the way back to the OPs original question; how "good" is the VPB? It's apparently good enough that Cummins OKs it for a 20% extension of OCI. But, you have to keep in mind that Cummins is probably using bulk house brand oil as a baseline for that comparison. ANY CJ-4 rated oil will work, but certainly there are some that can outperform others. It's highly likely that Delo, Delvac or Rotella could match the performance curve and be applicable for that same 20% increase in OCI, but they don't have a "special" relationship with Cummins as does Valvoline, so they are not "approved" as such.