Yes, I know they used a D700. The Digital Picture used, I believe, a 1Ds MkIII. An additional 9 MP isn't much and shouldn't account for the significant differences in image quality results.
As I noted, the results from the Lenstip site are more consistent with ephotozine than TDP and they also used a 1Ds MkIII. They also tested the lens shifted.
Unless TDP got a bad sample, I don't think this lens is as bad as they make it out to be.
Has anyone done the more 'delicate' testing you mention?