Manufacturers only work with groups that give good reviews. You have to read between the lines. Everything is rated good, better, or best but they never make it that clear.
Buyers are notoriously unreliable. They are bad judges - both to easy and to critical and have little experience in lots of cases.
Consumer reports avoids working with manufacturers by simply buying the items, but even there reports have a lot of bias.
I have read about an independent review organization, but I have not yet bought their publication. I will when I get serious about getting a replacement rig. Hope it is worth the money.