This could easily spell doom for independent blogs. I run a review blog. I receive tons of samples. My sample policy is always that I don't give you a good score for giving me a sample, but I will let you know when I post the review - IF I post a review.

Companies are willing to take this risk because any coverage is good coverage for them and all it cost them was a bottle.

These new rules state that if I were to review a product for, say, Logitech and not disclose that I was reviewing a provided sample, the Federal Government could fine BOTH me AND Logitech $11K. Now, with that potential liability, what's in it for Logitech to send me that sample to review? Now they're risking a five figure fine from the government every time they send a sample to a blogger that isn't affiliated with some large media organization that can guarantee compliance. Even if I intend to comply with this rule, Logitech's best interest is to avoid me and my ilk like the plague - further marginalizing independent media and favoring the print media.

Actually, there doesn't have to be a reason for them at all. Evolutionarily speaking, they only need to not confer a weakness that would hinder our survival. Benefits need not be involved.

Every product that I've ever bought from SonicBlue has been malformed and returned to sender.

The technology sounds cool, but I'll probably wait until it's available from another vendor.