1) most consumers don't have the time, interest, willingness, or even chance if they wanted to, to compare multiple pieces, for benchmarking - over time, and simultaneously.
2) even the brands/producers themselves either don't have trained ears, don't care, or don't take the time. the majority of them are mechanics (in the most respectful way, not in a pejorative sense) not musicians or even instrument makers.
Being in the business you are in (and I think we've talked about my past interest and involvement in that industry, including following and supporting as a customer people like Tom Colangelo, Nelson Pass, Dr. Johnson, Dr. West, Koetsu-san, et al) I think the industry dynamics are not that much different.
Hopefully, with resources like ours (and the old Harry Pearson type independence - even if it might have been more myth than reality; I can only speak about ours and I know what that is) the consumers will have their eyes and ears opened, and the industry will respond appropriately - hopefully, out of principle and genuine interest; but at least out of commercial necessity.
