I agree with your point. I think, in general, we put way too much emphasis on the weight of various components instead of the engineering and quality of a component. Light does not always mean better. In addition, reviews are very subjective. What a reviewer finds to be great about a wheelset might really bother me. Other than actually trying a component at the LBS, I'm not sure there is a real good way of comparing products.
On a side note, I own a set of the American Classic hubs. They are wonderful pieces of engineering. It is true that they spin really nice. You can coast forever on these things. In addition, they are a no-brainer to disassemble and maintain.