Actually the valid comparison would be the best dagger against the best one-handed sword. Because those weapons are what everyone will use in the end. And that comparison is actually an important factor once we determined the effects of the armsmen perk
We do know the disclaimer about daggers is removed from armsmen's description. For me personally, this is a 90% indication of daggers receiving the damage upgrade. Because it would not make sense to remove it just for the sake of bevity and then have to deal with death threats from dagger fans.
I don't have the strategy guide, and I dunno how many people will have purchased it in ratio to how many will just dive in the game. Assuming the world is big, it might take quite a time to find "best dagger in game." For all those 100s of in the meantime hours, baseline and non-unique comparisons may be more valid, since those will be the tools at hand.
I do have a similar conclusion about the armsmen's perk, but the OP and many others really do want confirmation.