CNET doesn't sell software via Download.com. I don't know if it sells software through any other part of its business. I doubt it because CNET is not a software developer.
Download.com is asked by developers if they can promote their software at Download.com. It is tested and malware checked, and then offered as a download if it checks out, but Download.com try as hard as it can to inform any potential user of the specifications and any restrictions on use.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of software utilities available, and 'some of them' will be trial software. That's perfectly legal as long as the trial is clearly mentioned, and many users like to "Try before they buy". If there is any that abuse this, or otherwise attempt to fool the user, Download.com will review their product and if necessary will remove it from the list. It is not clear that this is the case in this discussion.
As to software that we don't recommend in these forums, I wish that this could be better. But those of us who don't recommend only do that from our own experience and from reports we see in these forums. But we all accept that there may be many, many more users of said software titles that are very happy with what they use. We are all volunteers in these forums and while I am not shirking the issue by saying that I have to realise that CNET is a business and these forums work independently to the commercial side.
Mark