I read that piece and it really is striking what he has achieved, particularly when you take into account that there was a period when he was out of favour and attempts to remodel his action proved to be disastrous, for example he didn't feature in the Ashes team or squad in 2005. What I found really striking is that the young leg spinner in the current England squad, Rehan Ahmed*, wasn't even born when Jimmy made his debut. Back around this time I did wonder whether England would ever produce another 300 test wicket bowler and we've since had Anderson and Broad who have both passed 300 some time ago. It has been pure joy to watch how he has executed his skills and bamboolzed batsmen in a similar way that high class spinners have done over the years.
In terms of the other bowlers you mention as emerging at a similar time, you're right about Hoggard and Harmison, both did very well with over 200 test wickets each but unfortunately Harmison lost his radar in the latter part of his career. The other person who you might be thinking of was Welshman Simon Jones, whose career was blighted by injury. For a fast bowler he had a very short run up and bowled very effective reverse swing. He was a key element in the pace attack, along with Harmison, Hoggard and Flintoff, that defeated Australia in 2005 but never really came back after a long term injury kept him out of the side for the last test at the Oval.