A simple, no from them if the accusations we're untrue would've sufficed. In PR you wouldn't lie, because if the truth somehow gets out you'll get a lot of bad PR, however if the accusations were incorrect they would've had nothing to fear. Now, since they wouldn't want to confirm the accusations, it's much easier to don't say anything. Why would you not answer if they're "on the good side"? Especially when they answer about an inquiry about the game, but when they ask about the crunching they're dead silent.

Again, you're reading to much into my post. All I said was that they were crunching. I didn't say anything about whether that was wrong or not.

seconded.  there is absolutly no winning these days. 

It's impossible to judge until we see the game that is shipped next year. Then we will see who was telling the truth.