People forget but the M8 had battery issues at first, too. I suspect that after a few months, with updates from HTC rolling out over time, the battery life will get better. This is a brand new phone and yes, there are issues - but that's how every new tech product goes. The SG6 has certainly had its share of complaints thus far, as does every iteration of iPhone. People forget because these issues are solved over time and the experience changes.
Anyway, I want to thank you for the info you've provided in this thread. I feel like the real-world use of a real-world user is significantly more important than a bunch of meaningless benchmarks that don't have any basis in regular usage of the device. If the battery gets through the day every day and the phone is enjoyable for you, I see it as a device to reasonably consider for anyone looking for a new phone. People hoping for a massive leap in features perhaps set their hopes too high, but I'm confident that HTC is listening to the feedback and will continue to work hard to produce quality devices.