I didn't doubt you at all that you had read it somewhere. When I set this forum up I took the advice of a good friend who had implemented a similar rule about members only posting their personal experiences rather than posting that they heard something from someone else. It seems to help keep the environment here a little more relaxed and we don't see too much of the intrigue or long back and forth threads that happen on a lot of other forums. I can only answer honestly about my own experiences.
We don't recommend one machine, we recommend a range of machines, from ATR 102s and Studers to Technics and Otari MX-5050s. That is because our subscribers have a range of budgets and those are good machines that fall throughout that budget range. We have listed other machines as very appropriate too, like Studer, Revox, Tascam, Nagra T, Otari studio machines, older Ampex studio machines, etc, etc. I currently own an ATR, a few Technics machines, a few Otari 5050s, a Nagra T and probably a few ancient old jobs in storage that I have forgotten about. We have ATRs and Studers at the Studio - A80 and A827 along with an MM1200 running 1" 2 track heads with MR70 electronics. Paul currently has a PR99 in his living room. There's a Tascam hanging around the studio too, and Paul has an A810 stashed somewhere. I've had a nice Ampex 350 here for a while, a modified Ampex 934, and when I was a kid I had an old Roberts. I've had a few other old Ampex consumer rigs too. So it would probably be a mistake to represent me as a guy who is on some particular team when it comes to tape recorders. It's not about taking sides, it's about getting something that pleases you within your budget, and I am always happy to talk to someone about the various choices out there.