think it was acknowledged at the time that they did what they did to be controversial... trying to make 'different' telly (a la Top Gear with hammond in the f1 car)as 5th gear not exactly top of the viewing lists.... strangely the stig didn't have the same problems, but then of course going quick is not about sideways... remember TN was turned down for a drive at mclaren..
i can't remember what settings TN had it on for that test, but i have never felt that the car was every going to do to me what it did to TN.. indeed compare and contrast with sutcliffe in autocar vid saying it shouldn't be that easy to power slide a car at 100 mph... (i read that as 'Tiff you're useless'... perhaps reading too much)
agree the damage was done, and also that these changes will add a bit more 'flair and flamboyance' to the car, they make no change at all to how the car actually drives and goes.. it has always been meteoric but will now just shout about it a bit more..