After reading your article (and sensing the attitude it was written with) I don't understand why you didn't pick the Honda first. Most other journo's and riders seem to agree it has the best canyon carving (real world) manors .
Also interesting to see how CN and your opinions of the R1 vs. GSXR stock suspensions on the track differ 180 from Roadracing World (who I believe also didn't wad a gixxer)
Personally, I think the "open" class bikes are all about excess. Manufacturers offer entire product lines devoted to more streetable, more comfortable, sport touring etc. But the open class are the flagships, their way of saying this is the best we can do, and should be rated as such. If you buy a GSXR or an R1 and then complain after 150 miles that arms hurt then you are obviously a poor decision maker.
Your comments about most mortals not capable of the limits of these bikes while true doesn't make any sense. You could easily say the same things about the 600's. 98% of the buyers of any of these open class bikes are not capable of taking a R6, GSXR 6 or even a SV650 to it's limits so why should we worry here ?
I'm disapointed .... y'all are getting old
Guess it all depends on what your definition of what an open class bike should be....