The good thing is that BIP101-enabled code (once deployed) would still follow the longest chain if the rest of the network decided to cap the block size at a static flat 8Mb. There simply won't be any block producers that would want to shoot higher than that. So there is no contradiction here.
But, I do agree, that BIP101 seems to be designed to significantly shift the balance of power in the network from regions with higher hashing capacity towards the ones with higher bandwidth, which is much harder to increase quickly in order to counter some potential abuses that may arise from this shift. Plus, the effects of block sizes larger than 8Mb on network's structural integrity are unknown at this stage.
We need to collect more data on network dynamics under the new hard limit in order to see how fast the technology is able to catch up and what other issues may arise from the increased capacity. For example, how the new limit affects the amount of full nodes and whether an average home internet connection is able to handle the load. Going with a static flat 8Mb limit might create some turbulence down the road, but eventually the tech will advance to the point that we will be "back to normal" with the new data to evaluate and decide how to move forward.