TO deal with your first point it was claimed that the study showed consciousness while the brain was not functioning but it is far from clear that this is true
From the report you linked to:
Dr Chris Freeman, consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist at Royal Edinburgh Hospital, said there was no proof that the experiences reported by the patients actually occurred when the brain was shut down.
As for your second point I've seen a lot of criticisms of Edwards and I would be suspicious of any study that endorsed his claims. WIthout further information it seems quite likely that the conclusions had more to do with the credulity of the investigator than any genuine phenomenon.