I think you`re right, that I`m sure does apply to many (probably the majority) of the instrument/amp making companies, aside from the company I was speaking with.
Not sure about how true it is now but a mate used to work for Marshall and apparently they never gave stuff away, figuring that the more they gave away to rich professional musicians the more they`d have to charge not so rich non-professional musicians in order to remain a viable profit making company.