So glad it is not just me, but still very irritating.

For the time being, I find by hitting stop while the page loads (can take a few reloads), you can stop it before the sidebar loads up. A temporary fix for reading reviews...

Every morning at 6:15 for years now.

I have zero, I got in a car accident the year after high school finished and have had to spend 3 years (and counting)recovering back in my (non university having) home town.
All my friends went off to university (in the city), but I had to cancel the course I got into.