I know, the point was that he landed without parachute. If I had a choice to jump at 1500 feet or 25000 without a parachute, I would take the latter option.

For downward velocity, it doesn't matter. But for lateral movement, where the wrong move 10k+ feet up could send you off course, it matters.

I imagine most people falling from heights are not doing so with a net waiting for them, so that lateral movement to attempt to find a better spot to crash is probably beneficial.

It is if you care where you die.