I wonder what the checklist says? I've had a broken windshield in a pressurized aeroplane - the outer pane. We flew with it for about 3.5 hours (no choice!) and it posed no problems. The checklist said to depressurise only if there was windshield deformation or cabin altitude could not be controlled. It also said to descend immediately in that case.
With the benefit of hindsight and what has happened to me, I think in the absence of further information or checklist, I would put on my mask, descend and then open the outflow valve.
I wonder what these guys actually did (bearing in mind the first sentence of the report) and how much of it was induced by the checklist. I'll be interested to see the full report.