Coincidence and implausibility are not necessarily the same thing. Good writing requires you to still make it BELIEVABLE but that doesn't mean it can't have an element of "Talk about bad luck"
Agreed. Coincidences do have an effect and are worth exploring when writing about the human condition, regardless of the outcome. I get the feeling the author was trying to offer a simple example of deus ex machina, which can be enjoyable, but is cheating, nonetheless.
