Downdetector wins because of SEO. Most people don't get there directly, they google for "is $x down" and then get sent to downdecetor. Which from my understanding works by simply showing you how many people came to their site with those search terms. They don't actually check the sites.
I doubt they didn't collect all of that.
Downdetector in fact just seems to be a website catalog with essentially a guestbook and hit counter...
https://www.ookla.com/ You can see an overview of the data they collect and sell on the corporate website
coreyh14444•23m ago