My 8 doesn't seem to 'blip' on down changes.... a tiny amount, but not so you'd notice.
Yours is a pre-paddleshift model Neil?
I think the rev-matching (downshift blips) was introduced alongside the paddles and operates only in sport mode. This was explained to me whilst going up the hill at TOTH14 in the Speedster, but I was a little too terrified to take it all in...
