Benchmarks are not about '
fairness' - They're about "
what-is".
XP + SP3, is.
XP + SP2, is.
XP + SP1, is, and so are all the rest, on down...
If people choose to, they can "benchmark" any version of Windows 7, from build 7600 (the 'real' thing) ,
down through 7100, Beta, or whatever the hell they want to.
"Benchmarks" have always been biased, one way or the other,
usually by the "Independent Agency" conducting the "benchmark".
Most people do not have the 'technical expertise' to initiate their own,
nor do they have knowledge or resources to pit one against the other,
keeping all things equal.
You neglect to acknowledge the fact that the "3SPs + 9 years of refinement"
heavily contributed to the development of the "Pre-Release OS".
Your post of "non-information" makes one assume that the XP operating system fared better than the competitor.
I haven't read any of the re-iterations

, but I certainly do fit into the category of "...yet people still don't get it".