As Theo said, it depends on taste and what a listener wants. To some, they are "it." To others, there is better stuff. The build quality is excellent, as well. But this is true of a lot of high-end equipment. It has stood the test of time.
It's also worth noting that sometimes, things become desirable because they are desirable.
It's also worth noting that you are correct not to trust printed reviews. They are amalgamations of opinion from which someone doing research might glean bits of information that can be useful. But you shouldn't trust forums completely, either. They have the same purpose. In a world in which so many people with so many different rooms, likes and systems hold forth, again it's best to take what will help you gather the information with which to go out and make your own decisions.
It's also worth noting that sometimes, things become desirable because they are desirable.
It's also worth noting that you are correct not to trust printed reviews. They are amalgamations of opinion from which someone doing research might glean bits of information that can be useful. But you shouldn't trust forums completely, either. They have the same purpose. In a world in which so many people with so many different rooms, likes and systems hold forth, again it's best to take what will help you gather the information with which to go out and make your own decisions.