Not really arguing with any of the points you made, except that I think answer all or most of those questions you posed _could_ (and dare I say should) have bee

Not really arguing with any of the points you made, except that I think answer all or most of those questions you posed _could_ (and dare I say should) have been answered in one study. That would be my definition of good, thorough reporting (so Im pointing the finger at the article writer and what counts as "reporting" these days).