[the nub]

I agree with your overall point. What we think and what we know about our taste preferences go out the window when the blindfolds are on. The blind taste test is a great way to humble your palate. I've been part of and administered blind tests with cigars (Cuban and NC) and with drinks. The tasters ranged from newbies to highly educated palates. It's not as easy as one might think. I guarantee for sure that no one could pick out 5/5 Cuban robustos for example. Most people have a hard time identifying Cubans and NC within a batch of 10 cigars. Add in the pressure of publicly stating your opinion, things get even harder. So it's not surprising that lower tiered brands get a high score once the bands are off.