The article probably exaggerated the part of being unable to fly without it but in my view there is some truth at least that the helmet is an integral part of the design in providing situational awareness for the pilot. If it doesn't work as planned, it would probably mean a substantial feature of which time and money had been spent will not be harvested.
I concur completely Mr. Brumby, and your common sense does lead you to some conclusions at times the seem to be obvious, but if I had waited until I could afford to be married, I wouldn't be, if I had waited until I could afford children, I would be childless, if I had waited until I could afford one???, I wouldn't have a Firebird, GSXR-1000, or have ever flown an airplane??? So sometimes you launch on Faith Brother, the Lord will Provide, and He does.
Given the present state of world affairs, the bad people are gaining an upper hand, the good guys better keep their guard up, and the steel sharp, cause bad people cheat, a lot, and you can't take their word when they say???? we mean you no harm?????
Now on the helmet/hud display, that is plumb stoopid? You plug a portable HUD into the helmet plug, allows you to fly the aircraft and rudimentary targeting without the helmet. System redundancy is "always" a smart move, "always!", but smart people never remember that??? Heh! Heh!
No doubt the article does exaggerate, and there are a thousand hit pieces on this poor little ThunderHogge II, just as there was on her big sister??? very sad that people make a good living discounting the work of people who are trying to provide the means to keep us both Free and Secure? but the ole devil never sleeps, does he??