The problem with CR on the iPhone is that they added new criteria based on stuff they became aware of through the media.
No, they changed their recommendation status based on additional tests they did, like you yourself claim. They specifically said at first that they hadn't had the issue, but they were testing in a closed environment on a simulated cellular network and the issue only showed up when they got into the field.
They at first didn't buy in to the media "frenzy", claiming they couldn't reproduce the issue. This was already some time after the story had broke.
CR were very consistent in their handling of the iPhone 4 issue and still are. Apple hasn't fixed the problem, they can't change their recommendation status. Apple will never fix the problem at this point, so it is what it is.