PC Magazine in the 1990s actually had some brutal reviews that killed products. Not every old magazine piece was a rewritten press release, though plenty were. You're right, @nina365, that ads were always there, but the good critics stood out because they used the gear for weeks. Today, even with clear sponsorships, some YouTube reviews feel rushed after just a day with the product. The real change is how fast the content comes out, not just the honesty.