Regarding the absolute QE debate, perhaps I am missing something, but on Gama's webpage for the QHY9 there is a graph showing absolute QE for the Sony KAF-8300 chip (
link).
Microlensing is added to a CCD to reduce the effect that causes the drop in QE (to Effective QE) as some photons don't strike a part of the CCD that can record the strike. Adding a microlens helps ensure that a larger portion of the photons are recorded. Both the ST-8300 and the QHY9 use microlensed KAF-8300 CCD's yes?