It just has to do with what becomes an accepted mode of discourse in the industry/hobby. That's always the test of the creativity of a reviewer: If he can come up with a new descriptive phrase, that might "catch on" and become understood by the rest of them, and their readers. We've all been resentful of the perks reviewers get on a daily basis at one time or another, but we get over it after our systems get to a certain level of satisfaction, IMHO. Of course they can never be perfectly objective, and sometimes they're f^%&!#@ liars, but as a whole they do more good than bad for our hobby.
Honest Reviewers ?
Ever wonder why 99% of all reviwers seem to use the same expressions. No ? Well, I sure have been thinking about this. It's not that I have nothing better to do, but I keep asking why do they say the same things like .... " It sounds like a veil has been lifted" or "it sounds like the glass has been wiped clean" and the current favorite is "it just gets out of the way and let the music play ". Stereophile and the Absolute Sound seem to compete for the most stupid cliches. It appears that CABLE reviews will make reviewers go wild with verbal intoxication. Just sit and think about this crazy idea I am about to suggest. A group of 2 or 3 honest people with high expertise in the audio arena deciding to call the shots as they see them ! They would compare equipment or cables against each other and list their relative strengths, they would even offer opinions on any possible synergy between equipment and cables, if such a thing exists. They would have no fear. What a Concept !