Earlier quoted context omitted.
True, and Microchip is still good when compared to the likes of Broadcom and Qualcomm.
I don't do embedded work, but I see Broadcom and Qualcomm show up a lot in Linux bugs. I'd love to hear stories of what it's like to work with chips from these companies.
For larger volumes, ~100,000 you get to talk to a distributor yourself and design your own pcb. You still won't get to talk to anyone at BigSemiCo, but you will get access to datasheets and (probably) drivers. You will have to sign an NDA.
For their largest customers, they go all out. The customer gets significant input into the design roadmap years in advance. They can get cost-reduced versions of existing parts that leave off blocks they aren't using. reference board designs and example software are provided (to the extent that low-margin, enormous volume customers sometimes just change the html logo and ship). If the product needs integrating, Field Engineers will be flown out to assist.
There are some levels between these last two, where they will talk to you but not invest as much.
Take the above numbers with a pinch of salt; it's been a while since I was in that industry