most people who shoot RAW probably also use ACR to convert their RAW images, therefore does it not seem sensible that Dpreview should use ACR to compare the DR of different cameras?
I don't think that "most people" use ACR. Many, yes, but most?
A camera can't be tested with what "most people" use, but what the most knowledgeable people use. And that's often not ACR.
The best test is done in a way that is best for a certain camera.
The best tests are done in a way that matches actual shooting situations.
And do the box shots of dpreview match those?
Of course not.
Also: those close crops often hide how a sensor represents light quality. How colors are represented.
Test sites have a big influence on camera manufacturers.
In a worst case scenario it could give us cameras that perform well under those test conditions - not in real shooting situations.
This is why I personally prefer subjective reviews of photographers, that do their work and give reasons what the strengths and weaknesses of a certain camera are.
Then I don't need any charts.
That said, the results of this dpreview test don't seem to sustain our knowledge, that pixel packed sensors are not something we really want. They seem to have gotten the right results with the wrong methods.