I think you have to take into consideration that most tenants who take the time to write reviews of their rental companies usually have some serious beef. What you don't really get as much of are reviewers who have okay experiences.
With Equity, I lived in the same Squirrel Hill unit for three years. My studio was very roomy and very convenient to all the businesses on Murray Ave. The unit was well-maintained but showed its age in some ways, most notably the very creaky floors. I had a few minor maintenance issues, but my property manager always got back to me promptly and most problems were resolved within a few hours.
If I had stayed in Pittsburgh long-term, I might have gone searching for an apartment that was more up-to-date and that had a few more amenities. But as a solo grad student who wasn't planning on settling in the city, I was satisfied with Equity. And despite the intimidating list of moving check-out requirements that originally came with my lease, I just got all of my deposit back.