I agree with you on the worth of consumer online reviews, but I do seem to think if a bunch of different reviewers on different sites are totally gung ho over something, the product merits further research by me. Amazon.com reviews are the worst as some of those people are in left field looking at right. My favorite "review" Non Electronics kind, for a DVD, this is a classic, is some idiot who said that the whole DVD was ruined because in the special features for directors commentary (where they show the whole movie with the directory commenting) the director gives away what will happen in the movie in the beginning of the commentary. Like the idiot doesn't realise you're suppose to watch the movie first with this!

Also I definately wouldn't be surprised if some professional reviewers have either taken money, product favors or been told by their boss to write something positive or more positive.
Didn't say all of them but I'd venture a fraction of them do.