I think what has been proven is the label 4 * means very little. Very, very little, just look at the example filly tried to highlight for example.
And just because any hotel claims 4*, it doesn't mean that it is, or that the government is paying the "usual" (whatever that is) going rate. Most hotels have variable rates, even if booking 3 rooms for example. A block booking, at a quiet hotel is going to attract preferential rates.
But it all distracts from why we are having to pay for any accomodation, and that is the real issue.