SemiconEng, I do not dispute your link, only your interpretation. As an engineer I'm sure you've seen a lot of evaluation equipment go through your lab. How often does the OEM request the system be returned? I've seen many dozens of such evaluation systems, always with a ending date, and it is exceedingly rare that anyone asks for it back.
Now, perhaps it is not totally correct to extrapolate the experiences of a development lab to a customer who gets the 'try before you buy' system. Some of these customers will send the system back if they don't want to buy it. Others will simply leave it installed and forget about it until Intel comes knocking, if they do.
So it really depends on how vigilant Intel is about retrieving the system. I'm sure they will send a payment reminder, but if the customer declines, then would Intel rather have the system back (or would they rather leave it there for good will in the hopes of making a sale with a future Itanium system)?
For the purposes of this discussion I do not include the systems Intel gave to developers - all companies need to do that to encourage software porting. Intel has admitted to a large and costly software development program; that goes into the discussion of whether they will make back their investment in Itanium (rather than a discussion of giveaways).
Now, my initial post that evoked your response was a simplified statement. It was intended for a much simpler reader than yourself, the type of reader who posts fly-by's.
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