[eli]

Virtually all traditional media reviewers get their gear for free (though all the good ones send it back or pay for it after the review).

[anigbrowl]

When I used to work at PC magazine, (in London, ~1993-4) we never gave anything back unless it was a prototype or something. Just as well, considering the pittance we were paid :-)

[jbischke]

Perhaps the bias in their reviews is one of the reasons an increasing number of people are avoided getting reviews from traditional media.