Take a beach landing on a wonderful hard sand beach, tide out, no people. There is very little luck involved with a hand landing. There is almost no judgement, you have miles of beach, all you have to do is manage to keep control of the aircraft and the landing should go well. On the other hand with the chute you might drift into the sea or on to the ground beyond the beach - there is more luck.
Fuji I do not disagree with the point about luck, but my point in your example here would be unless you know personally that beach or area well how do you not know from 1000ft that it is not thick mud or silt?
Sure if I knew the surface was as described in that specific situation I would not disagree a good option.