It's still relevant because it's for job security.
When IT management needs to decide which product/service to use, they need to explain to the business (e.g. front office) why they choose A instead of B. Showing the report helps.
When product/service A messes up, IT management needs to come up with an explanation on why they've chosen a bad product/service. Showing other products/services look even worse in the report again helps. In other words, the chosen one is already one of the best in the market.
Given that the company pays for the report, why would IT management not ask for a copy as it costs them nothing?
This is not to say all IT management uses it to make their job safe but they can't lose by using those products/services in the report. In other words, they are taking enormous risk using a product not suggested/covered in the report and what would be their incentive to do so especially having gone through the financial crisis?