I agree with most of your remarks about reviewers in general, and agree that this particular review: 1) does read a lot like ad copy, and 2) has no comparator which would be useful to a buyer. This is not, after all, an entry level or budget table, and if you add the arm cartridge, probably a $5K investment, which might be chicken scratch for some here but probably 5 times more than what most people will spend on audio their entire lives. And of course no measurements, per TAS policy, which would have been particularly useful given the speed stability issues raised here.
OTOH…I have heard the SOTA tables, and when he finally does get to describing what records sound like, imo he conveys that it’s strength is Pace, Rhythm, and Timing. SOTA is based in Delevan , Wisconsin, about an hour from where I live. We have a recently widowed friend who has a summer home there and we have spent a few weekends there, and I’ve wandered into a local audio store a few times, with several SOTA tables on display. I probably know the SOTA sound better than most other brands as a result, and perhaps that is why I get what he is trying to communicate. I don’t own SOTA tables but wish them luck in the marketplace
In general the reviewer seems to be staying away from the usual audio terms which serves as shorthand between aficionados. The review in general seems aimed at younger newbies, perhaps a conscious attempt by TAS to capture younger audiences who might view audiophiles of my vintage as old stale and boring.
It would be interesting to see if that trend continues with TAS and other magazines, to see if they continue to consciously reject the culture and terminology that they helped create and try to lure younger blood. I don’t intend to read them but I applaud your Watchdog efforts monitoring the B.S. meter