Thanks for the great article, but I wish you would review binoculars with image stabilizers, like my Canon 10 x 30 IS. I didn't know stabilized binoculars existed until I read John Plaster's fine book, Ultimate Sniper. (Image stabilizers are now also found in some cameras and cell phones, too, like my iPhone 6S Plus.)
In binoculars, image stabilizers are battery-powered electronic devices that allow the user -- by pressing a button -- to use more magnification and still hold the image steady. So far my Canon battery life has been excellent, and I can use these 10xs easily where I would have trouble holding steady with 8xs. My wife has stopped using our good 7 x 50s because it's easier to use the stabilized 10xs.
I suggest you do another resolution test, including stabilized binoculars, with and WITHOUT the sand bags.
I will never buy another pair of non-stabilized binoculars.