With all due respect, Tech, I don't think the post

With all due respect, Tech, I don't think the posts you linked were chastising you for trying to make a connection with a professor.  It appears that posters were taking issue with your assertion that the company was negligent for not contacting someone who you suggested the company should contact.  For example, you said:

"I suggested that PURPOSELY ignoring that type of connection would be a form of negligence."

For the company not to contact someone who you say it should contact does not mean the company is not interested in academics, and I do not think anyone chastised you for proposing to have such contact.  IMO, it was your assertion that the company was somehow negligent for not following your lead that people took issue with.