Originally posted by noahpurdy I'm with him.
Jumping ship because they won't give you free swag is lame as hell regardless if you're an evangelist or not. If I were Pentax I certainly wouldn't sponsor a photographer with a sense of entitlement.
There are two sides to a coin - there is an element of truth here Ben that I'm sure you may also appreciate but choose not to see. Canon and Nikon would have no problems sponsoring you with multiple high-end cameras because such is their budget and huge profit margins. It's no skin off their teeth.
Move to Pentax, and with the limited market and production line they have (
esp. the 645D) there is MUCH less bargaining capacity to play around with. With this understanding, you might be grateful for the pro price offer and be happy with going for a K-5 or even a 645D under that agreement. Indeed, stating that you're happy to rescind your
ad hoc promotion of Pentax products for their failure to offer you free gear does convey a notion of assumed privilege from your status as a renowned fashion photographer.
What you could do for Pentax has obvious potential and benefits to their marketing, and may be a good move for them. Either way, it appears Pentax are sticking to their principles and may be justified.