About users with hidden agendas

Be careful what you say. The mods have their faves.

The key to "shill" longevity here and in most cases I reckon is to be a "mensch":

Definition of mensch

: a person of integrity and honor

Seen those here and those not so much. You can often predict how it is going to end based on the mensch factor alone pretty much.

more seriously, i do personally suspect that the problem of shilling and this type of thing is a little overstated in general - in so many forums i see 'subjectivists' and measurements freaks alike losing their composure, more or less constantly, because they see "hidden agendas" everywhere they look. in my view the overwhelming majority of people who frequent these types of forums are basically normal, reasonable people who share a fun hobby. that's not to say you don't have bad actors from time to time, but seems like they're relatively few and far between. just my .02