If this is going to go the way of 'bestest' art argument....I don't want to play.
Generally speaking, if you have devoted your years of training to TKD, every situation will be solved with a hard blocking, power kicking type of response. Is this because it is the 'bestest' way or is it because you have only learned to master your kicking/blocking techniques in this way and are confident because you can deliver this technique with good timing, power..... because of said training? Plug in any art and the question is still the same. Doesn't make any art better than any other, just different. How you pull it off is what makes you better, not the art.
There is no "bestest" artistic/technical response. There is only what you have in your tool box that you can pick from. If the "Bestest" response to the club wielder is to run, I will. If it is to kick, I will..... If it is to kiss him full on the lips before he can recover from his hollywood style wind up before the strike to break his concentration and escape - I will..... well it would have to be pretty dire for that.
I think folks are confusing "bestest" with "what I know I can do because I have trained hard in it." I have taken TKD from guys who can make it work on the street. I have taken FMA/Kenpo and midrange arts that combine hand, stand up grappling and kicking arts who can make that work on the streets - because they train dilligently and are pros....
Can't really argue "Bestest" because the situation is too vague, and TKD folks don't have the level of artistic sophistication with a weapon that an FMA'er would have and vice versa with the kicking stuff....
I guess my point is, checking or controlling the weapon is a good idea if you know how to do it. If you don't practice it, do what you know and pray for the best. Even if control/checking techniques are in your toolbox, they are generally taught as 'clearing the zone that the weapon will pass through motions' more than pinpoint 'grab/control the weapon' motions. So sometimes it is a control or check and sometimes the same motion becomes nothing at all and other times it turns into an in between strike.... I guess it just depends.
In reality if it was only a matter of the 'bestest' art deal, a program that trained reality street defense skills other than just the hitting part would be good and it would have a force continuum repetoire that went from tactical/defensive firearms instruction all the way down to verbal judo and run away applications. I don't think 'bestest' is the only reason people train.