In my experience it Just Works ™️. I spin up a distro/toolbox, compile some software (e.g. Emacs) then run the executable inside the container, and up pops the GUI window.
If you use distrobox, you can even distrobox-export
desktop files, at which point a containerised gui application is practically indistinguishable from one installed on the host system
Am I right in thinking that the article's main complaint, namely that the means testing excludes those too poor to retire, is wrong? You can still claim pension credit if you're on a low income.