Based on that review

Pros: Best physics and force feedback in any console racer (maybe even pc sim), huge amount of things to do and unlock, great sound effects for collisions between cars, best graphics around, great menu's

Cons: Horrible damage (should be fixed with patches), bad engine sounds, crappy course maker, can get repetitive due to being forced to unlock everything, shaky multiplayer, bad songs (can be fixed by deleting and uploading own songs), Logitechs wheels have huge deadzone and very touchy breaks and lack of configurability, bad AI, vast majority of cars are standard cars (they would prefer to have only 500 premium cars than only have 200 plus with 800 plus standard cars, this may be fixed with the supposed update coming for standard cars), lack of car customization (livery editor)

Since car handling and physics are the most important thing to a sim racer and a lot of the cons are supposed to be fixed through updates I can see GT5 scoring very high. It's going to be very interesting to see whether they give Forza 3 or GT5 the higher score. I'm thinking GT5 is going to slightly edge out Forza 3 and when Forza 4 comes out it may slightly edge out GT5. The two developers are probably going to keep one upping each other with each new game. Its pretty exciting how there are two great developers out there that push each other to make great sim racers.

And this is the advantage of having two great developers pushing out great games in the same genre. GT5 wouldn't have had the same amount of features if it wasn't for Forza 3 nor would T10 try to outdo the improvements made on GT5 with Forza 4. 

It's a win-win situation for us gamers.

Try setting the Brake Bias to 9 at the front and 1 at the back. Helped me a lot to keep the Elise stable during braking and path correction during the corners.

That's because they are racing with a Buttkicker. Most people without a Buttkicker thinks the "thud" isn't realisitc yet if you have a Buttkicker you''ll know this was done by design.  That was one area I like aboujt Fm3 over Gt5P was Fm3 had better "Buttkicking" effects. Now Gt5 top Fm3 as I can even feel the tires hitting the road splits in SSR5.

 More likely some reviewers doesn't know or have a Buttkicker. I serious recommend it as to me it's worth the price.  I like using the Buttkicker in other games as well like Unchart 2.

If you want to truly enoy this game, turn traction control off. It becomes much more lively and challenging.

Quite true. I play with all assists off, expect for the occasional use of ABS at 1, due to the brake-lock problem on the DFGT, G25 and G27 wheels (I have a DFGT myself).

When you have a Class C car or the Formula GT car without TCS turned on....races become quite interesting, to say the least XD.

Will do! The problem arises when braking into and accelerating out of corners, after all! Outrunning the competition seems like a piece of cake since they drive like a nanny but sliding all over and colliding with them when you skid out is really draining my patience...

I have been waiting for the ISR review and not suprised they enjoyed it. The "Sim" aspect of GT5 seems pretty solid minus a few obvious issues damage I guess being the one they focused on the most. This is actually a good turn around as they did not rate the Prolouge version so favourably so does demonstrate that their is a lot under the hood.

The comment pointed out by the OP with regards to time spent reviewing is not relevant. The gaming press are reviewing on a different set of parameters and what they are looking for are not the same as a Sim Racer. This is actually why I am suprised that the GT series does so well because it is not so much a game in the true sense. It also does not cater for the true arcade racer in the same way as say FM3 does and is definately more hard core. If I were a serious GT fan it would be reviews such as the ISR review I would turn too and not IGN for example.

absolutely brilliant summary of how I feel about the reviews of this game. spot on.