Re: "It isNOT NOT NOT about the price, and getting a better rate for the "friends", as we have all thought."
I agree! I always found that I can get a better deal when booking for a convention at a non-recommended hotel myself and not revealing I'm booking as a witness for a convention.
And I know for sure that here in Pargue hotels pay 15% kick-back to agencies bringing guests. I believe it's this agency fee that the WT is going after while pretending it has negotiated favorable terms for the "friends".