I sense two undercurrents in this discussion (which is now
off-topic, but worth persuing):

1) Whining about not getting parts for free for home projects.  Well,
be honest- if its a home project, don't get parts under false
pretense of large future volumes.  Tell them what you are doing, and
if you can't get a free sample, Just buy 'em.  Some companies know
that home projects breed spinoffs and home businesses, and will treat
us accordingly by honoring sample requests.  Others don't.

2) Difficulties getting samples- at all- for (even if small future
quantity) development projects.  The companies that do not provide an
honest and hopefully quick and easy way to get samples of their
parts will not get their parts designed in.  At least not by me.

>Also, some companies work in a range where 100 systems in a year is
>bgi time. Mr Distributor dosen't like to handle these, so if you
>can't do it with DigiKey, you're often SOL.

You mean there are parts DigiKey DOESN'T carry???  :)
Seriously, DigiKey is at the front of a movement in distibution to
deal with any of us: small customers to large customers.  Sure, you
don't get the cheapest price for smaller quantities, but you CAN get
the parts.  We have started to joke that the DigiKey catalog is our
"Stock book".

The other distys seem scared, judging by their attempts to follow
suit.  I say, hooray.

------------
Barry King, KA1NLH
Engineering Manager
NRG Systems "Measuring the Wind's Energy"
Hinesburg, Vermont, USA
barry@nrgsystems.com
"The witty saying has been deleted due to limited EPROM space"