I wonder
The article metioned the plane suffered minimal damage but the company say's it should only be used if there is no possiblity of a safe landing (treed/rough terrain) Could be a tough call for less experianced pilots.
The chute brings you down gear first at at 15 mph. Sounds pretty mild versus forced landing at 70 mph which could be like a bad car wreck.
If you haven't seen it, here is the BSR 172 FAQ page.
They list the retail price at $15,000. Steep but you would likely get an insurance discount.