The linked article claimed that the hinge mechanisms on his Nolan hit his temples and did severe damage. It seems like the weak point of many helmets is a side impact. The same SHARP survey that I linked to in a previous post gives barely satisfactory ratings to Arai helmets for this same reason, not because of a hinge mechanism but because of the visor attachment mechanism. Incidentally the Nolan modular scored better in this particular test than many of the FF’s.
The description of his friend’s injuries are pretty graphic. However the writer, to my knowledge, isn’t an expert in head injuries that could explain what happened at the moment of impact. Did you see the bike? It was a pretty hellacious accident and though he did come out with serious injuries the helmet did save his life and there is absolutely no way from that article to ascertain whether a different helmet would have done a better job.
Of course protective gear is a personal choice. However, I would base my choice on professionally conducted tests rather than the observations of one person who is not qualified to analyze what may or may not have happened in a crash. The first time I posted on this site someone responded with a great quote that I think applies here, to the linked article and not to JiK, “The problem with the internet is that everyone gets the same font”.