The New York Times has to do what it can to save it's reputation - it is their most valuable asset. Mr. Broder is trying to spin things but he is a journalist - and not an entertainer. I watched Transport Evolved podcast #138 and Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield (
http://www.youtube.com/user/aminorjourney ) and she mentions that the BBC "reports" on this in a one-sided self-serving way.
I think that Elon Musk knew what he was doing.