First, thanks for the write up. And I agree with everything you said from the excellent build and handling to the desire for a more compact hood when reversed
More importantly, I agree entirely with Rondec regarding many complaints coming from those that haven't really used it. I swear by that lens and found it has become the staple of my photography, namely when I am in a documentary mode. One of the things that I can't really seem to understand is the vitriolic hatred for SDM. I understand there have been some failures, but it is always the frustrated that make the most noise. So for every SDM failure that is voiced here, while unfortunate, logic would require the realization of at least 50 SDM owners that are happy with theirs and never say a word. In a perfect world the word failure would not exist - something Canon, Nikon, and Sigma experience as well despite our wishes to experience greener grass. And when you can buy a 7 year warranty for $29 when bought new and you can also get 2 year warranties for used lenses from MACK? I agree that Pentax should at a MINIMUM offer a 5 year warranty on SDM lenses, but to claim that the lack of one from Pentax when legitimate workarounds are available is prohibiting the confidence to enjoy perhaps the greatest APS-C standard zoom ever made?
I very strongly recommend that if a deal comes up on the used marketplace or new (as new it should be around $899 or better, not what has been done to the pricing lately), then you should absolutely grab it.
-Heie