I got my room sorted guys...
Oh so the Play Area is not what it NEEDS, but the "recommended" area to play in.
Yes, at its core the statement is basically stating the *
Play Area*, which is what the camera can receive/detect as required information for an optimal VR experience... you have 61.35 ft² for your enjoyment wherever you choose to sit/stand within FOV of the camera.
It's also a safety thing that Sony have to cover their asses with... an area they "recommend" you clear of nearby obstacles if you're playing a game where you're doing a lot of active movement while standing in, things you could hurt yourself on etc. Company Health & Safety policy 101. This is more a common sense thing though, if you're gonna be using the headset standing you'd clear a little space around you, sitting shouldn't be an issue.
There's confusion over this thanks to the article, but when you have demo kiosks and demos at gaming expos that are far smaller in size in use than the area stated and made out to be required, the article doesn't make any sense at all.