Linear vs. Exp = Pitch vs. Frequency

[jh]

>From an subjective point of view (the ear and brain) I think that 
>exponential detuning is more desirable. 

[...]

>The 
>point is what sounds more natural; linear detuning or exp. detuning. 


The answer is "both of them together".
Expo detuning alone does either sound boring in the bass or detuned in the
upper range. My favorite setting is like this:
(1) Adjust the expo detuning to an amount where it sounds fine in the highest
octave, and
(2) Throw in a slight amount of linear detuning (0.1 ... 0.5 Hz) to make the bass
"bloom"

I can switch the (tiny) linear detuning portion on and off on my JH-4 synth, so I can
do true A/B comparison. And my guess is that linear VCO based synths like the
Trident or CS-80 get some of their magic from that effect. (But as you cannot
switch it of there, it's hard to proove.)

JH.