>>>Seems Crucial started same game now, although they either communicated it more open (or market keeps closer tabs): https://www.tomshardware.com/features/crucial-p2-ssd-qlc-flash-swap-downgrade
>
>Ouch. So the strategy is to publish slow performance specs that are markedly exceeded in glowing 3rd party reviews- then release a slower version for which you claim your original specs were intended to "account"?
>
>Perhaps this would be OK if the market was aware that early samples are not representative so early 3rd party tests are meaningless until mainstream versions are available.
>
>I have been quite satisfied with Samsumg ssds- though if they too were to play these games, I am not equipped to detect this myself, especially if the ssd ships with the machine.

For SATA SSD (either in big i7 box or via USB3/SATA) or Memory cards cases I always run

h2testw (to see if size is correct, as some USB sticks or Msdxc cards are fake)
h2benchw
CrystalDiskPortable

and check on speeds of large copy action between empty, half full, almost full, seeding from one of my USB3 externals, which have enough for test.

Perhaps Al has some tools up his discs he can recommend - if not, I must read up a bit more, as few things not yet in fraud area rile me up more than such tricks aimed clearly at taking advantage of cursory test reader. Just doing paid work and buy most expensive Samsung Pro would be most economical (even after taxes), but I would loose the tech edge I have when analyzing perf by visualizing the problem AND probably miss much intellectual fun (I know I am more than partially weird). But aiming for such Bait-and-Switch dissolves trust in the company FAST. Since mid-90ies I stopped building rigs for other people (was never really muc profit, but was fun and led to nice contacts), but upgrading well working rigs I enhanced with about 20 SSD and a quarter TB of memory - all Crucial in last decade (SSD a few Samsung until MX500 showed up).

Even worse, If you believe
https://www.makeuseof.com/how-manufacturers-cheat-on-ssd-speed-tests/

Even Samsung has hands not totally clean. WD I remember doing similar stuff in HDs, seems they did it with Blue as well. Wrong to single out aDate, it seems.

If test devices reach ludicrous speed and the things sent out to me fail even at ridiculous speed, I am irked.
Having write perf for huge tasks below HD as in new P2 is incredibly stupid... esp if you read up relatively new stuff like test in

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/crucial-p2-review

which I did before missing the boat on Prime Day - ordering fast and send back if not perfect is not my style, even if that shows my age. Hurting the seller for manufacturers mistake will not make things better...