We all have different eyes, and see the world in different ways (and long may that be so)
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but the 4x5" looks far superior to the Phase One to my eye (see, eg, the veins on the leaves), even with the inevitable degradation induced by the scanning process.
The only area in which the digital does score (apart from convenience of course) is in the dynamic range of the first sample - but this is against Velvia, which has a fairly narrow range even for slide film. Would it be true to suggest that a less contrasty E6 emulsion (perhaps Astia) or, even more so, colour neg would have narrowed that particular gap?
An interesting article nonetheless.