Hard to not love the lens when it produces images like this 
I think you give the lens too much credit here. You clearly have photographic and post-processing talent (don't let it go to your head), so I'm sure you could've achieved the same thing with a different lens. 
IMHO, compositionally the top of this image is distracting - I can't stop looking at the leaves at the top. I'd suggest that you consider a landscape crop of the lower section containing the flowers. (Sorry I spend far too much time critiquing photos).
I know what you are saying from a technical standpoint (and you are right), but the extra degree of in focus area including the leaves and the great color on them is part of what I personally like. I like the narrow DOF, but within the larger context of the plant itself. If I had wanted a more traditional macro I could have cropped in (there is plenty of detail there for a tight crop) ...and that credit does go to the lens
, but in this case I was looking for a more contextual photo.
BTW, thanks for the nice compliment. It's true - I don't think that equipment makes a photographer. That being said - I have used lots of lenses and I do think that this one is pretty special.
