Geez Ben you are way to high strung, this is just playful banter. Ducati has a very long history of using political influence to get there way and denying it is just naive, now all the OEMs have done this as well but not to the extent that I have seen Ducati do it. Of course I don't have insider info like you, I base my assumtions on years of reading and watching and being involved on club basis.
I never did want to specialize to any one brand and everybody knows that I don't have a special place in my heart for ducati or yamaha but I will work on them without any qualms at all. I don't like to make rules to suit a bike, I would prefer to make a bike to fit the rules.
Anywho sorry if I offended you but I am entitled to my thoughts and opinions, course they are just my opinions. Oh and just in case you missed it I was not belittling you so please do me the same courtesy.