Great Image Quality, Just Too Awkward to Use

While everyone is entitled to their opinion, it sounds like you didn't take time to learn the camera.

While the camera should feel natural to the user (hence why some like one camera over the other), there can still be a learning curve that is perfectly acceptable.  Spending but just a few days with the camera is not enough to learn every in and out and feature of the camera.  The learning curve can be even greater if you are coming from a totally different system.  If you have used previous Sony Alpha cameras, like the A700, the system and layout should feel fairly familiar.  But if you are coming from another brand or a non-DSLR then the layout and menus can seem very foreign and will require you a longer time to adjust than just a few days.

Your review doesn't come across so much as a review but more so as a complaint.  It is very fragmented towards the beginning, like you were jotting the thoughts as they came to you but you forgot to flesh them out to give them meaning that others can understand.  You also spent hardly little time mentioning any positives, neutrals, or facts of the camera, and even some of those positives you mentioned are either factually wrong or do not reflect how you rated it in the scoring system.

Examples:

• Most of your scores have not mention or reasoning behind them.  If it has great image quality under studio or controlled lights, then why did you rank it weak under flash photography?
• You mention that it could be a great studio camera but rate it as only okay for studio work.  Have you tried using it in a studio?  I have and find it works out great!
• The camera doesn't do 10fps, it does 12fps.  The A65 can do 10fps.  Did you review the correct camera or did you not familiarize yourself enough with the camera to know what it can and can't do?

Ergonomics and the EVF:  it is always a love it or hate it situation.  I haven't found an issue with either, some others will find an issue with one or both.  I can see it being a problem with those who shoot with their left eye, but I think they would run into that with many cameras.  The EVF complaints are a dead horse that has been beaten one too many times.  The opinions of it are very polarizing and I don't see that changing for a while.

As for the lag you speak of (both in button/menu response and display), what firmware were you using?  If you didn't bother updating the firmware, that will be your main problem.  The earlier firmware releases had a lot of lag in the menu system and buttons.  The newer firmware releases have greatly improved button/menu responsiveness.

You also make no mention of what lenses you tested the camera with.  That can also play a huge factor in image quality, focusing speed, low light photography, etc.  You only mention you liked the lens.

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Paul