I'm a little curious how you arrived at "Editor's Choice" for this mobo, in comparison to the AsRock X670 Tachi C. The Tachi may have less "features", but it is priced nearly $200 less, which makes up for the less features.
Is the primary problem the BIOS issues? I thought the issues had been resolved.
Good question. Unfortunately this is a problem being a launch review of a new platform. It isn't a refresh of a chipset using the same socket. So at the time it was written before the launch and only one other motherboard on same to compare to for quirkness. If were to review it now, I would change a few things but I'm not sure if it would received Editors Choice. price is always a concerning thing to consider but and I try my best NOT to base the review around it because it changes per region and everyone has different ideas of what is a good value. Unless it is a exceptionally good value and just runs over everyone else.
What puts this X670E ACE over the top would be a clean BIOS among a few other things. I updated the Taichi to 1.08 and it is the same. Memory support hasn't changed either. The Xpander card, a 3rd PCIE Gen5 slot and more internal and external USB ports. considering it is a X670E, USB ports/headers should be one of the reasons to consider buying it over the B650. All Ryzen 7000 CPUs have 16+4+4 Gen5 lanes. whether it's B650E or X670E, it is just how the vendor splits it up. ASRock used the extra x4 for the USB4 (Thunderbolt 4), where MSI put it towards the 3rd slot. ASrock took away some rear USB ports and used it for the additional 4 SATA ports. What I am getting at is, while the ASRock price is $200 cheaper, it is trade off on features. I think MSI did it better. That does come with a increase cost though. Without those USB4 ports on the Taichi, it would be "meh" in terms of using the X670E chipset to the fullest. If the ACE was $1000, it wouldn't get a award. just to much in my opinion. Really hard to justify that unless its limited run or adds something really unique and not found elsewhere. So there is considering of price, but its small factor.