Well put Bill. That article didn't make for "fun reading" in my mind either, but unfortunately, sometimes crashing is part of the motorcycle experience. I have to admit, it would be just as easy for Motorcyclist article to have promoted an expensive brand name helmet, if their tests would have proved them out.
It seems the there's two issues going on with these tests, first the strength of the outer shell of the helmet, and second, the material used inside to cushion the riders head. Unless I'm missing something (and it was a long article!), in all test cases, regardless of the outer material, the outer shell held up to the simulated crashes (poly, fiber, etc) as advertised, although their tests seem to point to harder materials transmitting higher g-forces to the inside material. My common sense wants to think that any outer shell with some type of fiber base would help "distribute" the g-forces across a wider portion of the surface of the helmet.
What interests me most is the inner material that manufacturers use, and how well it cushions the noggin. Let's face it, if and when we go down, we're not going to be concerned about the fancy paint or its brand name. The way I see it is, we're going to be depending on the helmet to sacrifice itself so it'll minimize damage to our head.
I could care less what happens to the helmet as long as it does that one important thing, because (assuming I survive) I'll be replacing it anyway.