No, I agree, he could go with less recession.
Thing is, I don't know the age of InDenial, so its hard to know whats appropriate.
But, because the temple hair is quite fine, I didn't think a very strong hairline would look right.
Recession and thinning temple tend to go hand in hand, and as he said he'd been wearing for 20 years, I just assumed he must be older.

If InDenial wanted less recession, I think larger temple flaps would be needed, like this;