Don't listen to any of these guys, you play whichever irons you're most comfortable with.
I played 18 with a friend of mine this afternoon. We're both 16hcp. He plays with Adams Redline + Attas T2 reg flex compared to me with Srixon Pro 100 + Roddio SX flex. I hit my 8i about 150. His 8i is about 120. I hit his 8i the same as mine, but he tried mine and duffed it 80yds to the left. He said he was scared when he addressed the ball with mine, and I felt that I had a small shovel in my hand when I tried his!