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"I want direct benefits....free parking, a free night, coffee for free or dessert, discounts and so forth"

If you provide illiquid perks for participating in a review process, I don't see much wrong with that. If they were handing out cash, then yes, that is a grey area.

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Yeah just like those video game mag writers who got to go to flight school for their reviews of an air combat game. Ohh wait, paying people in things of value is similar to paying them in cash, even if they would have never bought those things in the first place. Especially if said perks can be sold for cash latter( free laptop for review etc.)

Paying for reviews is paying for reviews integrity compromised, trust lost.

The OP described perks that were illiquid, of low value, and generally non-transferrable in nature. I think that is what we're talking about.

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