The definition of a crash is when a vehicle impacts something resulting in damage to the vehicle (don't take my word for it see the OED). If you have a minor crash in your car you may well be able to retain a degree of control. This was a crash. A quite minor crash, a crash where the crew maintained a high degree of control but unequiocally a crash. As a pilot I do not consider an impact a normal outcome of a revenue sector on a commercial aircraft. So I really don't think it matters if you are a pilot, journalist or member of the public. When Bombardier considered this failure mode the desired outcome was manual gear extension maybe with the added problem of loss of nosewheel steering. Of that failed and there was an impact then the thing was designed to minimise the consequences of such an event.