Tommy, I feel that as long as you have NO commercial ties to a dealer or manufacturer, you should continue exactly as you have done. But 'shills' need to be identified. And labeled (but not silenced).....

I enjoy much of what is posted here, whether from a dealer or rep, or just a plain consumer. I don't feel that they in any way should be hindered from posting. Just have the common decency to identify yourselves as in the pay of the product you are posting about.

Be proud, you probably won't get any LESS respect. In fact, it might give a little MORE weight to your post, you certainly know enough about it to get hired by your company! There are already several people on this site that acknowledge their commercial status. George Kaye is still one of the more respected posters here, despite (or maybe even because!) he is a dealer... But his reputation comes because of the fairness in his postings. When some arranger has a flaw, or less than stellar sound or features, George doesn't try to hide it.

But I have my doubts about some of the posters here that can't admit that an arranger they use is anything less than perfect (well. until the NEXT model from their manufacturer comes out!).....

If you can't find something to improve, something you wish didn't work the way it does, something that is just plain dumb, in the arranger you have now, you either are in the pay of the company, or you are just not trying hard enough!