While Vettes don't do (and haven't ever done) much for me personally, you have to look at the readers of the mag when you look at the decisions made.

A few things to consider:

a) they have to sell mags, so they need choices with the broadest appeal and that a large number of their readers will feel good about and agree with

b) your average US reader (the proverbial "Joe Sixpack" or Homer Simpson type) thinks that a Vette is the ultimate sports car in the world and that something like a 911 is no different than a Toyota or Honda. Meaning that the charms and inherent superiority of European cars (not to mention sporting/racing heritage) is 100% lost on this type of person. You can't argue with this type of person -- they became aware of Corvettes when they were 8 years old and loved them ever since -- and feel pride that the 350 in their Chevy pickup is essentially the same motor as that in many Vettes (historically).

c) as much as I hate to say it, Vettes have matured over time into decent cars. Yes they have their problems, and I wouldn't personally be caught dead in one, but they are fast, handle well, are not entirely ugly, and overall give great bang for the buck.

My two cents.
Cheers,
Gerry