Here's the thing...the iPhone 5 wasn't a lagging experience in any facet either, so most consumers won't see a difference, they'll just experience the iPhone as it functions, and even if a game is running perfectly with that 64bit chip set that would not have run properly on previous iPhone's, it won't make a difference because it's a background operation, the end user just gets the end result, which is no different than previous models because when they were the newest model, they were running everything faster too.
I'm not saying it's not impressive...it's incredible to be honest when you really think about it. But when a person says "This is why I'm buying the iPhone!" it begs the question "Why?" You would think the hundreds of other things that are infinitely more in your face and noticeable would be better reasoning than something that is quite amazing, but only in the sense of what it is doing in the background that you never notice.
I agree with you and disagree.
Sure i would have liked a slightly bigger screen, sure i would have liked a re-designed body. But as someone who likes the "new" factor and the technology aspect, i tend to be more into performance. 5 has lagged for me occasionally, not like android lag but it has shown hesitation. It is not because of the hardware or the phone it is because I had carried my backup from 4s (a few jb's and a couple warranty replaced phones).
This review is important because it is a good review, it is balanced, full of facts, and objective. Most people out there have made up their mind about apple products, people thing iphones are gimmicks and horrible and samsung is the best. This review comes out almost like a pro apple piece, but its not. Especially from a PC/gamer reviewer this review holds credibility and its a strong "yes", it wont help the "stigma" of iPhone, but it is a step in the right direction.
BMW does the same, every 7 years a new facelift/full modem update. The inbetween chasis from the same model is called LCI (Life cycle impulse). Looks like apple is doing something similar with # and #s, in a way the #s model is a LCI (smirks).
<edit>Addes iOS7 review (detailed) in the main post from pixel envy</edit>