Your point is well taken about complainers outnumbering praisers--I'm a perfect example of that.
However, I am always suspicious of "editor" reviews because of conflict of interest (not wanting to PO an advertiser or potential advertiser). And I am doubly suspicious when the user reviews are SO far different from the "professional" review.
The fact remains that the three sites I saw that rated suites had CA last in two and next to last in the third one. Some other sites rated 3, 4, 5 suites and didn't even include CA. Couple that with the user reviews and I think the picture is pretty clear.
And, speaking of the user reviews, if you look at the user comments on the other suites, there are indeed more who cite problems than good remarks, BUT the other suites DO HAVE a smattering of good comments vs. almost none for the CA product.
Yes, there are free products, and I use the AVG you mentioned and ZA, but an integrated product with spam fighting etc. has appeal vs maintaining and updating multiple individual ones--but only if it works well, is easy to use, and without grief (problems).