That's what's going on with the Apple Podcasts users, right? Isn't that what this article is saying? Users are rating podcasts, not the player.

If you've gone through the trouble of downloading the app, and finding a podcast and listening to it, I'd say you're more likely to give it a positive review.

More technically inclined people, who know the difference between the player and the podcast, are probably also more likely to use a different player, like Overcast.

Some people think that the internet is the blue e button on their task bar. Those are the kind of people you just smile and nod. Any attempt at correcting will only lead to confusion, frustration, animosity, being asked to not come back to your parent's house, etc.