The witness whose testimony was struck was their first and perhaps their strongest witness, and so that could make it difficult going forward on the case.
The government may have overstated the dire circumstances going in. But when they actually came to prosecute the case, it didn't seem as dire or as strong a case when they came to the courthouse.
It is a strong endorsement. The question is: How relevant is it? Someone who was on the 3 rd Circuit for a decade and a half and has done a good job is likely to get this rating.