So if the scientists researching *this* method, and not cancer cells, actually make it work, would the title still be sensationalist and pointless?
Then it would only be sensationalistic, in retrospect.
Prediction-wise, it's not very likely the study of telomere reconstruction in flatworms will first lead to a human-applicable and human-life-safe method of telomere restoration as opposed to any of the many other possible alternatives, so chances are quite high it is pointless.
And quite frankly, it's not even so much an issue of kickstarting the telomere length restoration process as it is an issue of preventing runaway cancer events in patients that would get the treatment.
Longer youth plus cancer followed by early death doesn't sound as awesome as a long and healthy but relatively "normal-spanned" old man life, or does it ?
Cloning an entire replacement body (or at least a myriad body parts) sounds much better to me. Add a cure for neuro-degenerative diseases plus brain+spine transplant methods and you have a winner !