CR is useful mostly for the raw reliability data they have on products and brands. They still publish the frequency of repair data for major appliances and cars, which is good. They get in trouble, in my opinion, when they try to distill it all down to one number. I mainly use CR to augment online reviews and other sources because reliability data is really hard to find.
You have to remember that CR are not "enthusiasts" advocating for any of the technologies or products they review. CR reviews tend to focus on ease of use and value for money. I remember reading a review of stereo amplifiers they did a long time ago, and the start of the review basically said "all of these sound great, so sound quality isn't a differentiator." If you are an audiophile, this might drive you insane. If all you want is a decent stereo that is easy to use, it makes perfect sense.
I agree on the goal being ease of use and value.
But like I've said before, I've picked CR's higher rated items with mixed results, mostly poor.
I now ask myself these questions:
How knowledgeable are those providing data to CR? We're talking about the general public. If that's who you trust in to help make decisions, who am I to say that's wrong?
Did the CR reviewer buy the product with their hard earned money or was it given to them? This could influence a survey... Oh yeah.
When answering the surveys, do people know exactly what's wrong with a product?
For instance, what about the MANY older people that subscribe to CR? How familiar are they with new technology, info screens, warranty details etc...
What about brand bias or loyalty?
Some people buy the same "comfortable" brand over a lifetime just because that's what their parents did or that's what others told them to do.
They're sucked into the cosmic tradition vortex... they don't know how to formulate critical thinking and they can't get outside of the 3x5 card of allowable opinion. I'd say that's the majority of CR survey takers if using the general public as a barometer.
In some ways, taking a CR survey is like going to vote, Ha