Why do reviewers keep complaining about static and mess?

Static cling and grounds retention come up in nearly every grinder thread we read. Cheaper conical burr grinders are the worst offenders; owners use tricks like the 'RDT' water-spritz method to tame it. Higher-end models such as the Baratza Virtuoso+ are praised in specialist communities for having 'nearly zero' static problems, which is part of what justifies their price.