To be fair to Rippetoe he does not encourage upper back rounding when he teaches the deadlift.
To Be Fair To Mark
I use to lift with Mark in the same weight class decades ago and referee with him at meets. Mark was also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Association with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, as I am.
Mark had one of his article published in the National Strength and Conditioning Journal, years ago. For an article to be published it has to go through a Peer Review Board; it easier to get a book published than have get an article in the NSCA Journal.
I like Mark. I like some of his ideas on training, now the but...
Some of the thing Mark comes up with at times don't make sense, in my opinion.
Mark's No Upper Back Deadlift Rounding
This Conventional Deadlifting Protocol has been touted for decades; recommending "Pushing the feel through the floor, driving the weight up with the legs, not using the back, "Leg Pressing" the weight off the floor.
Scientific research by Dr Tom McLaughlin and other as well as anecdotal data from lifter have demonstrated that some upper back rounding is going to occur and when preformed decreases torque.
Mark Deadlift Training Method is a good exercise. However, isn't effective for the majority of Conventional Deadlifters max competition pull. It not the right tool for the job.
Using Higher Heel Olympic Shoe
Mark when off on a tangent about in one of his article years ago. Mark promoting using Olympic Weightlifting Shoes with an elevated heel. Doing so, reduced the loading on the back shifting it to the quads.
Mark bias toward the use of Olympic Lifting Shoes for the Deadlift was based on his personal experience. Mark was a Conventional Powerlifting Deadlift. Mark was quad dominate, using his legs to drive the weight off the floor rather than his back.
The Fourth Powerlift
This another one of Mark's quirky ideas. Mark decided that the Lying Pullover with a Triceps Extension at the end of the movement was/is "The Fourth Powerlift".
Granted Power was needed and employed in completing the ending Triceps Extension. It is a good exercise. However, it is not a Powerlift; a misnomer, as know.
Powerlifting is a measurement of Limit Strength with max load with a slow grind. It takes seconds to complete.
True Power Movements occur in around 300 milliseconds.
Olympic Movements
I am a huge fan of Olympic Lifting Movement for Power. My first coach had use perform Squats, Bench Press, Deadlifts, Power Snatches, Power Cleans, Various High Pulls and Push Presses.
At one time I was a Certified Olympic Lifting Club Coach (the novice end of Olympic Coaching). However, I let that laps.
I have fair degree of knowledge about the Olympic Lifts. I know enough to know that I Don't Know Enough; so I only have minimal input and defer to those with more "Skin in the game" of Olympic Lifting
Kenny Croxdale