The cloud layer on each depiction is distracting - they used the same cloud cover data from a modern year for all 30 samples. This would be much better with either no cloud cover at all or (if our climate models are good enough) realistically-modeled cloud cover for the land masses of the day.
During those times, land was a barren desert. No soil, no crawling things, no plants, just barren sand and rock. If you left an apple out in the dirt, it would grow no mold and probably just dry out. It's hard to imagine a world like that.
Interesting. Personally I was disappointed there was no snowball earth. Granted, I can imagine what it might look like but it would have been fun to see the contrast.