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I always get Australian S&T, S&S and Astronomy (US).
As you have picked up from the one editorial you have read from S&S, they have had a dreadful track record with late publication, and their endless carry on about being 100% Aussie made etc is a little tiresome (many of the images come from overseas and one of the editors resides overseas, so I am just not sure how they can maintain their claims). Having said that, often its articles are very well researched. I particularly enjoy Richard Jaworski's articles on double stars and Jenni Kay often has a good article about deep sky observing.
Aussie S&T is reliable and professional, and very good in terms of the local astro scene. It has given IIS excellent coverage in the past, and its editor Greg Bryant is an absolute gentleman and experienced observer. It often has excellent series of article on deep sky objects, like this month's article on Leo. The quality of its layout is miles ahead of S&S IMO.
My favourite, though, is Astronomy. Yes, I know it has primarily US content, and it often covers constellations we never see, but its coverage of cosmology is outstanding (this month's edition has a great article about string theory and the implications if it is disproven). It is surprising just how many articles do cover constellations we see from southern skies, and the equipment discussions are very good. The fact that it is monthly makes it very attractive, given the two Aussie mags are now bi-monthly.
I have developed a folder system where I cut out any articles of interest on particular constellations, and images I want to keep, and keep them in plastic folders arranged according to constellation in RA order. I have four folders at the moment, representing the four seasons of the year. I add to these folders my own notes from observing and research. IN this way, I have built up an enormous resource over the past 2.5 years, which is like an encyclopedia of the constellations. The magazines get butchered, and tossed out. I find I get the most content for my folders from Astronomy rather than the Aussie mags.
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