This is a link showing the properties of D2 steel, it has been used to years as shears, die's, planer blades, punches etc.
http://www.bucorp.com/files/aisi_d2.pdf
Maybe you've hit the nail on the head mentioning the heat treat as in your link were it mentions knives and shears it says an RC 56, and this was considerably less than I know my knives were, maybe softer is better with D2.It's fine mate i was not trying to make an argument, i dont particuarly have fondness for it.
It is a million times harder to heat treat correctly than 01 and i think that is the main reasons it has bad rep.
I have 100% confidence in Dennis's heat treatment on D2 though
Take care bud