As an aside and in defense of George Anderson, he is completely open about his methods, why he has the Mid-Flex Orvis rods and why the GPX was used.
I also know Tom at Trout Underground is a "low modulus guy stuck ina high modulus world" and claims "most fast taper rods feel stiff in my hands". I have seen similar comments from folks who proclaim certain rods to "really be a 6wt". I trust the review, though I am not naiive enough to make its desicion for me. I do not put much thought into who won, but into the individual comments for each rod. My two bits.
FYI: I fish fairly quick graphite along with swamp donkey and quicker modern fiberglass rods. A slow Hardy glass isn't good for all situations just as a fast rod isn't always the most fun to fish.