Thanks for the feedback Misirlou & Cynthia; I had almost forgotten about this thread
Did you take the wide photos on your site with this camera, Cynthia? Either way, they are very nice.
Based on what I've been reading (all I have to go on at the moment), while DPReview and some others have criticized the 50D for bringing out the "worst" in lesser lenses, it seems like the converse is also true, that the 50D is bringing out the "best" in Canon's better lenses (e.g., this one, the 100 mm & 180mm macros, the 100-400mm zoom, etc.).
I will probably wait awhile before getting this particular lens, as I am not much of a wide-angle shooter, but in several months I will be visiting the Northern Pacific Coast and was dismayed that many of the Canon wides have been criticized ... yet everyone seems to like this particular lens quite a bit.
So when folks like yourselves (and even pro reviewers, as up top) continue to say this lens exhibits professional-level quality all through its range, especially on the 50D, it makes me feel good about my recent purchase of a 50D (I get it here Wednesday ).
Thanks again.