CR is entirely dispensable, as are all the other supposedly unbiased consumer rags. This is all subjective opinion, to a set of values you may or may not share with the authors.

I used to read CR, as well as practical sailor and aviation consumer. After several cases where my personal experience varied 180 degrees with the conclusions presented, I decided a far better source of information was first hand questioning with a sample of actual owners.

Some owners of most anything will defend their purchase decision to avoid losing face. Those types are easy to spot, however. Most people will be quite honest giving you information about actual experience.

"The price of good shotgunnery is constant practice" - Fred Kimble