I recall the puff piece criticism, too. I re-read it and found it to be somewhat honest about the jamming problem blamed on weak mags. They sure were not doing hard-hitting expose journalism.
Were you a Pop Sci reader? Couldn’t have been many girl readers at the time. It was my favorite mag from about age 10 to 18. First mag I ever subscribed to — I think the subscription was a Christmas gift from Mom & Dad. Dad was an mechanical engr and this was one of many things he did to set me off on the same path. He was really smart that way.
I took the magazine from about 9-13. I loved it at first, especially "New Ideas from the Inventors," but I eventually tired of it because it was so formulaic and repetitive. High school was so demanding that I didn't have time for it. Loved the car reviews too (MoPar fan).
I think the subscription was a Christmas gift from Mom & Dad.
Same here, but I think it was my uncle. I ended up a mechanical engineer as well, a tinkerer. Now I tinker with biology. It's much more interesting.