Well if it was Skins paying the promoters then I take back my limited sympathy for management.
And though you probably figured this out long ago, if you know or suspect paid promotion, the only buying you should even consider is very short term trades ahead of any momentum. Though even then, I think it's a little skeevy to take advantage of others' gullibility.
My experience tells me (and you may recall my warning about this on this very board) that when companies begin promoting their stock more than their product or service, it's a bad sign.
Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
GEORGE SANTAYANA