The story is really just a fluff piece, I don't know why anyone would view it as anything otherwise. I think that what should be focused on is the find my iPhone feature, which apparently worked very well in this case.
People have dropped their iPhone 4 from hip distance, causing the glass to shatter, so what we've got here is a case of simple physics. From 1000 feet, the phone, when it reaches maximum velocity, is still likely spinning or turning, and by the time it reaches near the ground, it is passing through trees, and if it manages to turn from a corner angle to one which puts it in a flat position, the air will cushion it further... Not to mention the case on the phone, that also has an effect on the amount of friction, and also helps keep the impact points better protected so that it's held tighter.
Would be the same chance of luck for any phone. Less so however, for those older round-ish non smart phones I'd imagine.
Doug
