[Kirby64]

Did you overlook the rest of my comment? Digikey et al can handle distribution, yes, and in some cases can offer minor applications assistance, but they are not the manufacturer and therefore do not have the domain expertise required to adequately support the product. Especially complicated products. I can tell you I've worked with distribution FAEs directly, and they're more-often-than-not just messengers used to shuttle information from the customer to the actual manufacturer FAE or direct applications engineer.

They also don't produce any documentation, nor produce any application boards, collateral, drivers, etc.

Market segments that a company (a semiconductor company) wants to service all have different needs. General market/distribution is a very different business from custom/large customer business. Just like it's very different from industrial. Or automotive.