I think the OP was being to narrow in describing Phish's early music as lacking in depth and emotion lyrically. To a certain point it is absolutely true. Most of it was done comically, some of it because the music was far more important and I don't think Trey cared much, but mostly I think the percentage of goofiness was so high because of the state of music and culture in America. As Trey talked about in Bittersweet Motel, they were kids from the suburbs and so were their fans. It was not the 60s and 70s, when the Dead wrote most of the folky, lyrically deep songs (no doubt they did their entire career). The world Phish developed in in no way took itself as seriously as the Dead's did and it reflected in the music. I don't think it was because Trey and Tom couldn't write deeper songs, I just don't think they wanted to hear or play deep songs all of the time and the fans didn't care either way, they just wanted to see Phish.

I am not bashing the OP, I think it was a good article. That's just my opinion on why Phish's music wasn't as "emotionally intense," although that is a completely subject opinion to being with.