Reminds me of the issue with car tyres - I know it's far from a direct comparison but you'd assume car companies would usually specify the best tyres for the job, but they don't. They have alliances with manufacturers and doubtless it makes economic sense (obviously no parallel in that there's no freebie wire manufacturer making a profit in cahoots). Now all tyres 'work', but the difference between good and bad is significant - there are many group tests undertaken each year. I have a friend whose car is like mine in many respects (4wd, front-engine, powerful) and whilst mine is pretty much unaffected by rain/cold, his becomes a complete liability. This is not down to the car, it's down to the choice of tyres the manufacturer made.