Yes, the evidence of actual harm from aspartame consumption seems very limited.
I'm guessing the evidence of actual harm from aspartame consumption is also orders of magnitude lower than the damage from sugar-induced diabetes.
Probably not, but not because of this article. There've been a number of studies that show that artificial sweeteners have a similar effect on building up insulin resistance as actual sugars. We'll have to wait another 20 years for the evidence to overwhelm the moneyed interest.
Aspertame got US FDA approval in 1974, after being discovered in 1965. I'm not ready to anticipate a shocking revelation in another 20 years after heavy investigation for 50+.