Yeah Bob i agree that looks like a way of getting some advertising for the burl site. I dont see the bowl being that clean either or in one piece. You seen water pipes where tree roots have had hold of it. They dont look pretty.
Oh i'm sure the advertising helps, but from other posts on LJ's I'd say he's not that 'sly' about things. He's plain about his company, and his sig line even has the link. I think this was really a surprise find.