Actually I think people were warned to specifically not insulate the top of the chip. I can't remember where, but I distinctly remember reading that a heatsink on top of the chip can actually cause damage. Maybe that was because the pressure of the heatsink can cause chips to come loose from the board or something, but I do remember being warned not to try to exhaust heat out of the top.
He doesn't mean the avalon chips. Other components (capacitors, regulators, etc) need to be slightly cooled too. They don't have vias probably.