Having looked at the photos avalable of the area were this inccident happend it is clear that the options for a forced landing were to say the least limited.
The chute gave the pilot another option and (in my opinon) he was wise to use the chute option, this resulting in the perfect outcome.
What I think it illistrates well is that as soon as the red handle is pulled you are a passenger who's landing place is now down to chance. I think as long as the chute is used as a last option it is a good thing to have, used as a get out of jail free card to get the unskilled out of trouble it is likely to kill more people tan it saves.