Quote - if they render it correctly, most of their users won't be able to duplicate said
render, thus forcing them to render using default settings.

So, you're saying that products are rendered based on the inexperience of the user?  ie: "This is what you will get when YOU try to render it."

I can understand that, to a certain extent.  But, that doesn't account for all of them and, simply put, there's no reason why render settings and a little bit of rendering help can't be put in there as well.  I've seen plenty of producers include rendering tips and even multipage pdfs on how to best render their products and other items as well.

Wouldn't it be "OK" to show the product in different renderings?  A good quality Firefly, Poser 4 (whatever version that is) etc?

For me, I don't want to know what the worst possible render of the product could be.  I want to see the best quality that is possible to get out of the product.  Rendering to the most common denominator is understandable but, not if that means that it actually makes the product look terrible when it really has good potential.