Apparently, Nick L knows test pilots who've bailed out of uncontrollable machines...
I think the point about parachutes is for when an autorotation isn't possible.
As for making the airframe stronger should the aircraft land on it's tail, wouldn't it make sense to have it act as a crumple zone, assuming the chute had slowed down the descent to acceptable levels?
(sorry to bring this back up, posted the above in more recent thread)