[dmforcier]

No question that there's a huge individual variation in heat. (I had intended to mention that.) But just imagine how hot true superhots would have been!!

The SHU scales are for comparison of the varieties, not individual peppers. In fact, there is some considerable controversy about how the "World's Hottest" should be judged. Some want a test of individual peppers (and you will see the single-pepper numbers quoted especially for Reapers), while others insist that a true test is an average across several plants.