So I've learned a lesson about buying cheap on the internet...beware. I had a bad feeling about simplyelectronics but figured it couldn't be that bad. Keep in mind I ordered a lens nearly 2 weeks ago now, one which was "in stock" and "usually shipped within 2-5 days", and the order hasn't been processed (but card charged).
Kathryns next gig is tomorrow, so I bit the bullet and have started the ball rolling on a refund (I just know that they'll now ship the lens and/or refuse to refund the money) and went and bought the lens from a local camera shop for about £40 more than simply's price.
Took it out today whilst geocaching and took some shots to test it out. It seems pretty good, focus is loud like reported, but because it focuses quickly, in scenarios where the noise is likely to be distracting or noticed it's a non-issue if you roughly manually focus it first.
Clouds whilst out geoaching by
Chris_Moody, on Flickr
Car wreck in the forest by
Chris_Moody, on Flickr
Mossed by
Chris_Moody, on Flickr