This idea has higher turbine costs (and site profitability already ranges from impressive to deeply marginal), and the extra profit from the high end isn't excellent. Cringely overstates the money lost in high-wind conditions - most shutdowns are for low wind or to avoid damage in storm conditions, which are rather different than smooth, profitable high wind.
Further, it might offer major operating-cost hits even with ground-based generators simply by being a major break with existing systems. Obviously that's surmountable, but it means that the system has to be better for a lot of sites to be worthwhile.
That said, there are definitely vertical mill projects in the works, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them have switchover generators.
This works, but is less efficient and mechanically more taxing on the machine than variable speed, variable pitch angle systems.
Obviously, this would be much more costly because of the additional big generator and the complication of the drivetrain. But it'd let you harvest a bunch of energy when it's really windy. And with a vertical-axis mill, not only would this be better for wildlife (lower overall speeds), the generators would be on the ground, not way up in the air, and driven by a shaft from the mill through its tower, so servicing would be easier and the weight and size of the generators and the drivetrain wouldn't be an issue.