> Does that kind of patronizing tone sound polite to the ears of a PR drone?

Yes, it does. And they're not entirely wrong. Consider this video in which Uber CEO talks with someone like a real person instead of "respectfully" brushing him off:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW50dnWVfGU

It was a PR disaster. If he'd just ignored what's-his-name as an insignificant peasant, nothing bad would have come of it.