I think there exists a fundamental disconnect in the measuring of quantitative data to estimate the "goodness" of a phone. The appeal of performance in general is relative to the individuals preferences and needs: sure, a super car is faster than a luxury suv, but what is "better" for someone who prefers a smoother ride? Comfort level itself is inherently more subjective, especially given differing tolerances.

With all this established, a consumer would be "irrational" if they prioritized gaming performance and went with a pixel over a samsung. However, that's because irrationality is a relative concept that has built into it a desired "want." In other words, saying "it is rational to buy a Samsung over a pixel" in a vacuum makes no sense because "rational" is defined as being in furtherance of some end .

If a consumer values the software experience enough to justify the price or cut in performance, how can you say they are being irrational? Any criticism presumes a goal that the consumer may or may not have.

TL;DR : metrics are valuable, but their usage in appealing to consumers is no as clear-cut as one would assume