well, no.. when I use words like "almost" or "usually", that's pretty much what I mean. You can never know for certain, but you can suspect, and that was my main point. Example:
"hmm.. this 20cd box set of the complete works of X-composer with this unknown performer and orchestra.. considering the 10$ pricetag.. is probably some low-budget recording of mainstream repertoire with the purpose of generating income"
could there be hidden jewels among ? Sure.. but is it likely that this 20$ cd recording with just a few of the same works but with [insert preferred artist] will be more enjoyable for me ? It very well may be.
But don't get me wrong however, if you are just getting into classical music your frame of reference is underdeveloped and most of your attention goes to just getting to know this very different music and its instruments/sounds/color/dynamics. By all means go ahead and buy lots stuff (or, just go to the library!), you do need those "bad" recordings to develop a sense of personal taste. But once you've gotten to know you first bulk of standard repertoire, and you find out that life is to short for sloppy articulation or tacky rubatos, or whatever your subjective preferences might be, then you might want to go about your record shopping in a more critical way.. or not, that's just my opinion.
The classical music industry is so different from other genres, in the way that it's more or less the same music being sold over and over again. And even though every CD is made with the purpose of being sold, there's still a difference between those that value profit, and those with artistic value. This tendency of quantity > quality is mostly noticeable when it comes to box sets, they are usually a good example of is.. but far from always, one of the things I still listen to the most to is my box set of Glenn Gould's complete recordings.