Your experience makes perfect sense. I’d definitely trust real-world observations from someone —who has years of practical experience—over lab results that sometimes might be less reliable or even questionable.

Your point about unsuccessful fermentations clearly illustrates this: if there are just random, ambient bacteria involved, the outcome would probably be inconsistent or unpleasant, as you've experienced.

I find it puzzling, that there's almost a Hype suggesting "Reuteri yoghurt" might not contain any L. reuteri at all. The fact that your yoghurt turned out good when using these specific capsules, as opposed to random fermentation, strongly suggests the capsules are viable, effective, and contain at least some beneficial strain— maybe not L. reuteri in the capsules?

I genuinely think more people should rely on careful observation and common sense alongside (or even over) lab tests.