Now you (and GN) have to decide… Either Linus is supposed to give his take and opinion on items they review without any regard to relationships or are they supposed to give this product preferential treatment because of who produced it?

While GN is certainly right in several points (and LMGs selling of the prototype was a really bad oversight for which they need to pay), Linus take from "no cooling performance is worth it at this price point and nobody should buy this) is his opinion and it is not without reason or logic. And GN tells him 5 minutes earlier to do exactly that - give his opinion and take without regard to others, the community or the producers of the products in the name of “journalistic integrity”.

A lot of this seems to be consulting work and not actually software cost. How are they supposed to estimate the necessary number of hours if you haven’t told them what you need.

If you are serious about it, identify a few companies (no fewer than 5) and send them a Request for proposal (RfP) with what you are looking for and let them bid.