In the main I agree with your opinion and have also found their beers quite variable in quality with Lambtons being the worst of an average, at best, bunch in my view.
Though yesterday I had Samson in the Frog & Ferret, Spennymoor and gave it a 3.0 on NBSS which must have been just about the highest score I've ever given to a Maxim real ale.
Cheers,
John Holland.