But in a way, isn't that what we do ? Ok, we don't get money, but if we like a product, we recommend it. We talk it up. We 'endorse' it. Some even blast and blaze if anyone says anything against it.

I wouldn't buy the signature guitar because it's endorsed but I'd have no problem owning it. I remember when I was looking into the Lounge Lizard electric piano and the geezer in the shop told me that Herbie Hancock used it extensively, to the extent that he didn't take physical keyboards on tour anymore. I thought, 'well, it can't be a shitty little thing then'. Same with my M-TRON mellotron VSTi, I read glowing praise from Rick Wakeman (who interestingly was the first mellotronist I heard, I think). And I'd've bought Mike Pinder's mellotron samples if they weren't so expensive (for me).
I agree. If I was looking for an X and Ab CD endorsed it and it was within my price range (ie, cheap !

) I'd go for it. I've done that with Miroslav Vitous and his orchestral package and a groovy little double bass sample by Danny Thompson. It's not so much the
artist as much as it is the fact that that artist plays that instrument and therefore should have some idea if it sounds OK. Unless they're Beethoven and gone deaf.