Now, that being said, using Anandtech and his blog about EVGA/nV, does it really promote any more clarity via what he has done? Your bolded points really make his statement almost ambiguous, dont they? Paraphrased together they basically say "EVGA asked us, we said no, but then we went ahead and did it anyways." This statement doesnt lend much credibility to Anandtech saying that they are impartial and unbiased, at all. It actually totally clouds the situation in my opinion. Just to further muck the issue of what information should be (possibly) kept hidden, and what should be made available; HWC didnt perform overclocking benchmark due to (rightfully so imo) a lack of review time to release. However, this wasnt stated in the review as to why they wernt included. If it had of been made know that the reviewers time was short, this would have just made clarity better.
Honestly, what goes on behind the "curtains" as you mentioned, really isn't the readers business. It will only cause to stir up even more problems. You are delivered a product "a review" and in some cases, the website, provides the ingredients list, and some, as with HWC, even tell you the exact recipe. But there is no reason to show how the cow was slaughtered, the grain harvested and grown and the plastic packaging made.
If readers think that there is no chatter between review websites and manufacturers press/marketing/development teams, they are out to lunch. There are a lot of different things that go into a review that readers have no business demanding to know or need to bother to know.
Regarding the specific non-inclusion of CF and Overclocked benchmarks - most websites, including ourself do multiple takes of a review, focusing specifically on different aspects. Its no conspiracy - its simply how it has always been done with what we have been given.
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Regarding the whole Anandtech thing, I think the inclusion of an OC FTW Card is completely okay. In fact (not to go against Skymtl's method for reviews in any way) in SOME respects it is a more appropriate move than comparing just vanilla cards. This depends on how the review is approached and explained however!
If someone wants a new graphics card, and is thinking about spending $250-$260 on a 6870, what other options are there for them?
Well, actually the GTX 460 1GB is NOT direct competition to the 6870, because it is only about $220, a 12% price drop.
However... a GTX 460 1GB OC/FTW at $250-$260 is the direct monetary competition for the HD 6870... so why exactly would you NOT compare the two cards?
It stands to reason, that if you spend less you get less - people are making buying decisions based on reviews. They want to know exactly what they can get for their money. If their money is $250, then you present them with what ever options are available for that budget.
And no it would not be fair to say - well if you include an OC GTX 460, you also need to include an OC HD 6870. No because and OC HD 6870 (from factory) is going to demand a price premium.
If the OC HD 6870 costs $300, then its competition is no longer the GTX 460 OC, it is now directly vying for your dollars with the $300 GTX 470.
All in all, competition is ALL about the money. It has nothing to do with what the manufacturer says it competes against, or what basic card it comes close to. It is 100%, unequivocally, about what YOU can get for the exact same amount of $$$.
