Is this thing still going off every time somebody gets on a roller coaster?
This is a completely different feature that uses satellites to communicate with emergency services.
That’s the crash detection feature; the feature referenced in this article is the ability to use satellite communications in the event that you need help but don’t have cell phone reception.
No.
This feature is such a good addition. It was a big reason I upgraded to the iPhone 14 pro last year. We do a lot of hiking as a family and even though most of our hikes take place in the surrounding areas of a major metropolitan region, we often find ourselves in spots with no cell phone reception. Having the ability to call for help in those areas, while I may never actually need it, is a nice feeling.