An excellent post BOW!
By analysing the information from that article, it is based on factual information with a reasonable expectation. I believe the most valuable to be taken from that G&S report, is the common sense of how consistent grades and math support a very genuine estimate and conservative, whereas it does not entertain ALL information in the equation.
To further, and as you note, that report was condoned by management and an obligation lies with management to present truthful material to the public. So therefore, it is truthful and regardless if it was paid for or not, the intent of these type of reports is to share the data/news with the public, if the news/data from these reports are not truth, then they become misleading statements advertently connected to management, as in "intentional". Whereas we enter the realm of the justice system and fraud, where "intent" needs to be proven, to define fraud, but again, where these statements are not misleading by the statures of regulators and such, we therefore must presume that they are not misleading statements, but an actual truth based on factual information.
