Any evidence or even subjective reasoning why I'd believe Apple is any different from any other company? In the absence of evidence I wouldn't accuse Apple of anything but only a fool would give Apple a pass on something that "every company [supposedly] does".

Lots of bashing and irresponsible reporting while bending the truth on Apple. Coincidence

Good point; Apple never trashes the competition, that's above them.

As a semi-related example, I'm sure you're familiar with product placement in TV shows and movies. Most product placement is done because the company paid for it to be there (for example, all of the Windows 8 stuff I've seen in Arrow I'm certain is paid product placement). However, despite the fact that Apple products are used frequently in TV shows and movies, Apple does not pay for product placement; all the Apple product placement you see was free.

In any case, I personally don't think Apple is the only company that doesn't engage in astroturfing. I'm sure there are many large companies out there that don't do it.

And I really have no idea what you mean with the "gimped software and drivers for other platforms" claim.

What ??

"X" instead DO not even make software or drivers for other platform ( Mac and Linux ), what do you consider those company then?

I'm a Mac, I'm a PC? Classy, well-done trashing, sure, but straight up naming-names trashing it was.

When your customer satisfaction numbers are that high, who needs to pay for astroturf?

Except in this case I don't think this claim was true at all.

Other then that I can say nothing more.

The ones that don't get invited are those that buys stolen goods to be able to show off unannounced products.

2. You rarely hear about journalists getting blacklisted from events because a. the general public rarely cares or b. if they do they call the journalist, a 'whiner'.