Those are the easy ones to weed out to trust. There's only a few I'd trust. Most of them are working on projects and don't have time to comment. I've been on there a long time going back when the users were on the NSS. I've figured out the landscape. I tend to trust advice here more often based on what you said.
Sometimes the sample library discussions are entertaining. That place can be toxic.
APD is practically blacklisted.
You really have to weed through to get some honesty because it they are obsessed with shiny and new.
They are not my first source for information but still helpful since developers don't have working demos.
I don't consider VI Control as expert opinions compared to hear. They are easily attracted to new. They rarely tell it like it is if developers are on there.
Kontakt - no license restricting
Soundbloat - 2 machine limit
Kontakt version is uncompressed meaning the wave files can be used as loops not sure about Soundpaint.
It would take me a week to audition factory stuff.
I was never a fan of Mellotron stuff but IKs is very good.
I can't stand the ST browser and often have to use the GUI that comes with their product addons.
This developer gets ridiculed for sales but trusts the end user with no gimmicky license schemes, affordable updates, more video presentations, frequent updates, and additional discounts on sales.
My email folder has the same amount of sales from Waves.
EQ31 and Total EQ gets some attention.
He's not lazy in updating plugins.
I find MS and Apple borrow each other's ideas and often it's the bad ideas.
Look at W11 with the TPM requirement.
My iPad is over 10 years old. I never really use it. It makes for a good portable media player on the patio.
My fascination with portable DAW, having an iRig, IK keyboard, and all of the cutesy stuff was short lived because you realize it nowhere dents the use of a desktop DAW. Oh sure it may have some uses to make people believe you are cool in a Starbucks doing DAW stuff.