"I have found maxim ok for samples as long as you buy stuff from them occasionally."

The trouble with being a Consultant is that I get the samples, do the work, then recommend the Client to buy stuff - so Maxim (or whoever) never actually see me buying suff! :-(

Having said that, I still find Maxim/Dallas to be most accomodating with samples - despite having never seen a direct order from me!

Maybe they also watch the tech support questions, and see that I must have a real application?
Maybe they put the mistakes in the datasheets deliberately just to see who's paying attention...?