Well...I wouldn't go that far. I don't think anyone is an idiot for doing research to help them make a decision. If someone just asks others to tell him what to buy and then buys what they tell him to buy, that's foolish...but, to ask for reviews and personal accounts of people who have actually owned the item you are considering, as PART of the decision making process, isn't foolish IMO.

You do have to do some filtering, because there are a lot of people on the internet spouting their expertise without any facts or personal experience...but the input of those who do have actual experience can be valuable. If 99 of 100 people have had actual problems with a product, chances are it's not a good buy. Of course, you might be that 1 in 100 person who is lucky and/or can make work what others can't. That's where your own personal judgement and willingness to take a risk comes into play.