ASR do sometimes miss the point. However, it does help to see measurements of a DAC because if it has a high noise floor there is no point in using it for high resolution files.
At the end of the day they prove that there are a lot of perfectly decent low-noise DACs and Class D amps that produce lots of power with low distortion. That should not be news to anyone.
Audiophiles can pursue their entirely subjective listening tests and judgements independently of ASR, never the twain shall mix.
p.s. The only RCA cable in my system, connecting my phono amp, is also about 20 years old.