I find the media streamer reviews here pretty strange, as they often seem to overlook app availability as if it's a non issue. There are an endless stream of generic Android TV boxes which lack many or all UK streaming apps, but they can still score well. I don't get it.
Unless you're still doing the whole rip your own content and store them on a private server type thing, or you're just a criminal who steals content, then where is the appeal?
Also, why was this list lacking the Roku, Fire TV, and Chromecast? Surely these devices are far more commonly purchased?
From the point of view of convenience and being vehemently opposed to theft, I'd direct people towards the Roku for 1080p displays, and the Apple TV 4K for 4K screens. Whilst the latter is currently short on apps, it will have Amazon, Demand 5, and ITV Hub by the end of the year, and the combination of Netflix 4K Dolby Vision and surprisingly cheap 4K Dolby Vision content on iTunes makes it an obvious choice. The NVidia Shield is a nice bit of hardware but Android TV is even more moribund than TVOS is, and I suspect it will never get the full suite of UK apps.