Where is that you keep reading the UA 6176 is bad? And just because one guy in Mix believes the Aphex was best for the Kiwi, that doesn't mean it is best or even more important, that it is best for you. He didn't even mention what other preamps he compared the Aphex too. So while the Aphex worked best for him, that is far from it being best for the Kiwi or it being the best choice for you.
The more you fully trust or place absolute value on other peoples opinions and hearsay, the more your settting yourself up for disappointment and regret. There is a lot more to buying gear that is good for you than just buying gear that has a high buzz or is being talked about by a lot of people. Products like the blacface ADAT, Mackie preamps, and many other products were all hailed as the greatest thing and are now considered for the most part total crap when they are the same quality they have always been and can still be used with much success.
A wise person knows this and plans his gear purchase to fit into and matchup with his other gear, all his future gear, along with his working style so that in the end it all completes his long term goals and mission.