People occasionally ask me about whether or not they should buy something. I never give them a definite yes or no. If I own that item, I tell them about my experience with it. Otherwise, I will either do a search and tell them what I found, or I will tell them to try Google.

Personal opinions are just that - opinions. I hate to see people asking for advice only from members who actually have that particular item. I have lots of "items," and I like all of them. That doesn't mean they are the best possible choice for everyone. People make their living reviewing things on YouTube and in print. They will buy half a dozen items and compare them in detail. I would trust a review like that more than my neighbor saying, "Yeah, this is great." Of course, there's nothing wrong with asking owners their opinions of a certain product. Reviewers have a product for a few weeks, while owners have them for years, and that could make a difference.

Looking for comparisons is also a good way to find what's best for you. Not everyone is looking for the same features. I don't care about high frames-per-second, but for some people, that's essential. Seeing two items compared, as opposed to a straight review, is a good way to see the differences between them.

I don't believe that the majority of reviewers are paid by companies to give their products good reviews. That would be too obvious. If you read half a dozen reviews and comparisons, you will get an overall feel for a product. If five reviewers hate it, but one loves it, you can discount that one. If you make it a habit to read reviews by the same people, over time you will get to know how these people review. Some think every product they review is the best ever, while others find nothing but faults. It pays to know your source.

Good luck, and spend your money wisely.