As someone who has painted in acrylics for years Golden is considered the gold standard. They also make Williamsburg oils.
But, looking at the paints, and I am a newbie to watercolors, I felt they were not quite the gold standard as their acrylics.
Reading your review I am glad I passed them over and went with my sense about them.
Maybe over time they will work out the kinks and perfect the paints to being better