While they have been upfront about affiliate marketing, they haven't been upfront that a product that is shortlisted in their guides would be downgraded if it d

While they have been upfront about affiliate marketing, they haven't been upfront that a product that is shortlisted in their guides would be downgraded if it didn't have an affiliate program. Essentially no one would assume that a vendor having (or not having) an affiliate program would affect the relative ranking of the guide's recommendations.