Super shoes help heel strikers more than forefoot strikers. And they help older runners who have lost a little pop more than younger runners. Voila. D'Amato, a heel striker who has lost some pop, goes from good story (and it is a really good story) to great story.
I'd love to see her run a 'thon in regular shoes as an experiment. Have a fall 'thon with only old shoes. And see where the chips fall.