Do photo reviews matter, or is any review app fine?

Reviews of any kind beat none — the presence of real ratings is the biggest jump. Photo and video reviews matter most where the product is visual: apparel, home goods, beauty, anything bought on look and feel. If that is your catalog, a visual-first app earns its subscription. If your product is functional or spec-driven, a budget app with unlimited requests covers the job, and the money is better spent elsewhere.