All I want to point out is that you say folks on this site are biased because they see the price and hence expectations increase.
Terrible of them, I know. Why let them have common sense and expect more performance when you pay more? It is audio after all. We should make new rules for that expenditure. I pay for a supercharger option for a car. Company delivers it and it reduces horsepower. I should be OK with that according to that rule....
Regardless, I have no issue with recommending ultra expensive gear: they just need to have the performance that is comparable to devices at 1/10th their cost. If they don't, then I will comment and withhold my recommendation.