A sampler does not mean a non-buyer. There are forces at work directly tied to sampling that people do not have the slightess clue about.
Yes, in fact they expect you to be delivering a product to the market, and expect a yearly sales.
Last time I was talking to the local Ramtron rep., he told me that it cost around a hundred dollars a pop to send out samples. It requires a lot of time and expense just to ship them. Think about it. Many of these sample arrive at your door quickly, and at times by courier.
Before he would send the samples, he asked what kind of yearly turnover this would bring to the company. He knew I was a small fry, because I told him. He suggested a low figure, and I said 'yes, and with any luck, more.'
Sampling is just good business practice, and it makes good sense. If someone who is very inventive comes up with 'a good one,' they will be after a large volume order of the same, or similar chip, which they sampled.
It also doesn't make sense to abuse this hospitality; there are companies who no longer sample freely.