The D2 is great for instruments where transients are a distinctive character of the instrument (such as percussion). I prefer the D2 for micing toms than SM57s. I even tried it with great results for micing bass and guitar cabs.
In my opinion, the mic reveals the closest sound to what you are hearing in the room. I rarely feel the need for EQ. At the same time, there is a bit of a dip between around 510hz and 1.2k that really helps with clarity and carving out some of the mud. Also, I like its size weight and form factor, making it easy to use with a clamp or stand.
This gives the opportunity for very versatile placement in tight spaces or under low hanging cymbals. The bleed from cymbals is very little. The last thing is the price, which is great value for the money, and I would not be too concerned for the drummer hitting it, compared to Sennheiser MD421.
