Hi Viggen,
That seems pretty odd. I've met Kimura-san twice now and unless his written english is considerably more adept than his spoken, then this source must have been a translation or even further removed.
Could you recall in more precise detail Mr Kimura's impressions and who might have posted it here at AG? I would think it highly unlikely that a manufacturer, whose work is naturally created to suit his own value system,would give a blanket recommendation for an aftermarket device with a different set of values.
Even in the most candid and balanced of exchanges it seems to me that he would make very clear which *specific* sonic & musical characteristics that they appreciated along with those they were less enamored of.
best,
k