I would say read those reviews by hams, they are damn critical of performance.

The worst thing you could do is choose a radio by its looks. Some of the best performers don't look so nice, the $$ went into the guts instead of the sheen. I would stick to a brand with a history of performance.

I have an old Sangean that refuses to die too. It must be at least 20 years old, works well for its price. I am more into the DSP radios these days, but they're lousy for "survival" uses.

SW listening can be very addictive. It's always good to hear the real news. Once you do, a lot of things will become a lot clearer.