Is aerodynamic braking really effective?
The aero brake in this picture is the chute! and yes, it works!

Your wiki source is mistaken in stating that this use of elevator increases load on the main gear. The wing angle of attack will increase wing lift in multiples of the tail download, as you observe in the extended gear struts. 

Landing like this allows the aircraft to slow with less use of brakes. It is counter-intuitive to claim to both save brakes and increase main gear load, which is intended to allow greater use of brakes. 

Military jets land at comparatively high speeds, making this more useful since aero drag is proportional to speed squared. It may even be more effective at high speed than brakes, saving brake capacity for later in the landing when aero braking becomes less effective. Brake capacity may be limited to keep brakes small and light.

Nose gear does not have brakes and adds negligible friction.