If you must rake them up because they make the path to your front door too slippery or they have coated the lawn, then return them to the tree. Rake them back up to the base of the tree, tamp them down a little and leave them alone

This is a common mistake that gets repeated, but trees don't have the same uptake capabilities at their base as they do at their dripline - the space directly beneath the outer edges of their canopy. Here's a quick explanation of the types of tree roots and their functions for those interested in learning a little more about it. The best place for the leaves, from the tree's perspective, is at the dripline and tapering to their base. That's where the majority of fine roots that are best at taking in nutrients are located.

That's not to say there isn't a value to gathering them in the way mentioned by the article, particularly if usable space is limited and that area is used for activities. What's important is fostering the local ecology in a way that makes your appreciation of the space, and thus your stewardship of it, grow.