I think the critic/audience distinction on RT is completely unproductive and should be abolished, but I think the fact that a critic’s knowledge of film isn’t cursory is what gives them more weight. It’s just populist snobbery to construe that as “elitist” just because they have more education or put the work in to have that engagement IMO. If anyone could be one then we’d all be

Criticism isn’t about being right or wrong, and even the perspective of it as “consumer review of product” is wildly off base about their value in society, but I digress