I agree with Dustin's point that life is "markedly better" by having the best available. In saying that, I'm often happier to outsource some of the responsibility for deciding what is the best product to someone else than do the leg work myself. I just can't bring myself to get excited about televisions, cars, and most household appliances.
Would I find a product that better matched my sensibilities by carefully researching the market? Sure, but buying a product that's a 97% fit for twenty minutes of work is better than buying one that's a 99% fit for twenty hours of work. Or at least in my head that's how the cost-benifit analysis works out (this sort of thing is deeply personal, and I'm prepared to accept that other people's values are different).
The Wirecutter is great for this sort of thing (http://www.thewirecutter.com). Need a set of headphones? What's your price bracket? OK, get this pair.
The Wirecutter is surprisingly accurate. I browsed for things in which I'm an expert (headphones, cameras, LCD screens -- you don't seem to have vehicles, petrochemicals, lab equipment, firearms, radios, or other tactical stuff..), and your recommendations either matched mine or at least seemed defensible, rather than Details/Stuff style driven by advertisers.
Disagree with Curtis, it's actually possible to automate this so it doesn't take him spending weeks reading up on flatware. Just use the knowledge of those who already have. My startup's app analyzes user ratings and tells you immediately which one's good for your purposes. Give it a shot: http://tryarrow.com.
I would far prefer to use that "app" as a website, not as a phone app. I have approximately never been walking around with just my iPhone and thought "Oh! I want to buy a new Point and Shoot Camera! Let me enumerate my preferences..."
As a website, I'd seriously consider using it, particularly for stuff (like flatware, or shoes, or dish soap, or whatever) that I don't care that much about.
Sure, that's the way we research things today, but once it's in your pocket and it works, it'll happen on-the-fly. Just like how nobody sits at a desktop and prints out maps today. Also I use my iPhone for everything these days.
We actually threw up a web test and it got way less interest than the mobile version, probably because it was less novel on the web (other sites existed, though they didn't work).
Would I find a product that better matched my sensibilities by carefully researching the market? Sure, but buying a product that's a 97% fit for twenty minutes of work is better than buying one that's a 99% fit for twenty hours of work. Or at least in my head that's how the cost-benifit analysis works out (this sort of thing is deeply personal, and I'm prepared to accept that other people's values are different).
The Wirecutter is great for this sort of thing (http://www.thewirecutter.com). Need a set of headphones? What's your price bracket? OK, get this pair.