It seems like somebody else could probably step up and launch a better version of Wirecutter, following the same format. I had no problem with Wirecutter before

It seems like somebody else could probably step up and launch a better version of Wirecutter, following the same format. I had no problem with Wirecutter before NYT bought them, even though affiliate links were their business model. It was understood that their real product was trust, and if they traded that for a quick buck, their days would be numbered (they did; they are). I assume what would happen is that such a review site be good for a while, and then they'd either decide to scale up, or get bought by someone. At that point, they'd turn evil, and there'd be chatter about it, and I'd start going somewhere else. Eventually, history would produce that rarest of individual, someone who was smart enough to run a lifestyle business reviewing things honestly and not turning greedy, which would put us in a steady state.