Thank you very much - I'm glad you found it interesting even though your personal lens choices are different. The images contained in the articles are a very important part to me personally.
I know about the lens baby lenses but I've never been interested enough to get one. I appreciate the concept however (moreso than the mere re-issues of old classic vintage lenses by some companies nowadays) and think they can open the door to think more creatively about photography.
I distinctly remember the point when I decided I would not avoid something on the basis of it possibly being judged as cliché or overused or even kitsch, if my own perception deems it necessary for what I'm trying to do or even just beautiful.
You're right - the shallow DOF is an important part of the image. I still feel the rendering is at least equally important and I wouldn't have created the same kind of images with a modern lens.
It can be used as a mere effect of course, which is fun as well:
But sometimes (at least that's my perception) you view things through a new (or in my case often old) lens and find a unique and/or new way to look at things. It's honestly one of the things I'm after in this whole thing...