The body contains a container div enclosing an empty header and empty footer. That's more bare-bones than some people will want.

There is value in a template that correctly uses nav, section, article and aside. You stand a better chance of making reusable CSS starting from such a template.

The HTML5 boilerplate doesn't get in my way - it includes some commonly needed stuff like jQuery, a CSS reset, etc. I can use it as the base for anything, not just a blog with a tree menu and a particular layout. (I'd also disagree with your use of the aside tag for archive navigation)

I'm not saying the HTML boilerplate is useless. I'm saying that something less bare-bones is useful.

Something less bare-bones can also be used as a base for anything. Deleting unused elements is easy.

The aside was intended to hold a variety of content. You're right that the sample content is navigation. I will look at making it a nav within the aside.