really nice test man!! i think ashley should update the performance post
C2 is almost catching CC with the native performance
but for the OP, if you don't mind my humble opinion and about your friend concern on CC being a viable option: use C2(unless you really love CC); we all know that CC have a good native performance but choosing a engine only because of the FPS/object count is not a wise move (specially in this case since C2 is almost there); by the time his project hit the medium size, C2 probably will be more reliable and with more possibilities, is growing faster each day, already have tilemap object which give a boost in performance and development speed and by the way...
multiplayer is coming!!