Precisely.You are wrong. Disclosing whether you got a product for free or were paid to endorse the product is obviously the ethically correct thing and most people understand that.
Why does it matter? You know exactly why, but I'll spell it out anyway. If someone receives got a $2k rifle for free, he might be inclined (maybe just on a subconscious level) to say good things about the product. It's pretty flattering to be selected to be given a $2k rifle to use (and eventually review). That might creep into your review. It's not shilling, but it is worth taking into account.
If someone is a bit more shady, he might consciously say good things about a product because he likes getting free stuff, and people tend not to give you free stuff if they think you are going to bad mouth them.
Further, since we are calling BS, I'll call BS on you being someone in a position to respond to my question. (Since you yourself write reviews and take photos of gear, maybe this subject hits a little too close to home? You seem strangely upset that I even asked the question.)
Regardless of how long SMGLEE has been on this board, it's a fair question. Longevity on a board doesn't mean someone is above shilling for a product, or more likely, that someone is immune to the psychology I talked about above.. He should disclose how he got a product that doesn't appear to be commercially available. If his reputation is above reproach, then it won't matter much. (I'll confess that I don't understand SMGLEEs place in the firearms world or why I'm supposed to think that he is above reproach and his opinion can't be questioned. I thought he was the fellow that goes to SHOT Show and takes pictures, and he also takes a bunch of tactical training classes.)
the totality of the highly credible posters who have made positive comments --- Who here besides SMGLEE has even handled one of these rifles? Some people seem to know Hodge himself and vouch for him, but maybe I missed the other reviews from highly credible posters.
(And maybe he spent $2k on the rifle. I don't know. That's why I'm asking.)
And this is one of the biggest reasons the gun magazines on your grocery store shelf are typically ignored.




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