Good article
I think this article presents the most reasonable look at this problem I have yet seen.
One disagreement: I think it may be entirely possible to design a return capsule so rugged that it could survive a full-speed rentry and impact on the Earth if its normal recovery system (parachutes, retros, etc.) failed. It is my understanding that the plutonium RTG capsules for some deep space probes are currently designed for this, but I don't know the details.