Justin was reviews editor at the time, so he was probably the contact for all review copies (which would include all swag-laden behemoths disguised as review copies). Then, as I understand it, he sent games to specific reviewers himself for assignment. So, no, I don't think the review was passed on to Griffin for ethical reasons. Just a function of how their site is/was run. I think Richard Mitchell is reviews editor now. So he'll be getting the personalized straight jackets from here on out.
And really, people, I think this hyper-attentiveness to swag is really the wrong path to follow. Focus on the people, not the stuff. It isn't "about the money" or about "the free stuff." The far sketchier stuff are the things that are much harder to quantify: relationships with PR and developers, the "industry" culture, the career bumps into publishing and development, etc. Yes, many members of the press sell this stuff for money, but that's small potatoes compared to the other harder-to-define shared culture between journalists and those on the other side (PR, publishing execs, developers).
If we focus too much on the "free stuff," it will be really easy for journalists to laugh us off. And they won't be wrong to do so.