Sales and Marketing departments use tactics I loathe, but are generally very effective. Scaring non-technical people is easy as they see the world differently than we do and tend not to effectively use logic when making decisions. When it comes to sales, anything that can be used against you will be (assuming your competition is competent). Sales isn’t omniscient and many times they misjudge situations, but in this particular case, you should listen to them. Remember, the public doesn’t typically respond to logical arguments unless all actors are using logic in their reasoning. The problem here is that you are trying to present a logical argument. Your competition will not. While I agree that the Sales department could attempt this argument, if they do not believe in it, I do not think it will succeed. I do not view it as laziness, the developer here is making their job more difficult. You want the Sales team to have an easier job so they make more sales.