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When the strutless 210s were first introduced there were a few cases of wing failure and their strength was compared unfavourably with the earlier strutted models. Testing showed they were actually stronger but because they are so aerodynamically clean mishandling took them past vne much quicker than occurred doing the same thing to one with struts. Education was the answer.
That is it in a nutshell.
It's a high performance aeroplane that is very slippery and mishandled easily in the wrong hands. VNE excursions in strong down draughts are typical if mishandled. Hence getting the gear out and turning it into a 206 when in trouble.
You can argue all day about the strength of the 210 spar compared to other types, but other types won't overspeed as quickly as a 210. Even our lovable Bonanza. A 206 certainly won't.
As I said, there is a reason why they are probably searching off the coast. That is where the weather would have been 'better' at that time of day. Anyone with time in the NT or tropics for that matter knows this.
What upsets me about these accidents is the Pilot had his family on board, and launched into known weather in (probably) a VFR aeroplane. This is the result. Yes the commercial guys probably push it a bit with the weather this time of year, but they fly regularly and generally know their way around the area pretty well.