Hi Student,
Surprisingly (for myself) I have to take the HP's and more specifically Lion's side and disagree with you. If Lion, or someone else from the HP, put their unsupported tricks of trade readily available online then he might liable for what might happen to machines still under warranty that should have been dealt by having a supported route. Albeit it would be a longer experience...
On the other note. I totally agree with you that HP support as an organization, at least in my case, failed its purpose. BUT!!! Lion from HP tried to be as helpful as he could be, way more than he had to. No, I didn't use his "trick" as I preferred to go a different route. And using his "trick" it might have invalidated my claim. Eventually I did sort my problem.
My last note (and a hint). Social media made our world smaller and transparent, and various bodies of power find it harder and harder to ignore "students" like us. Some even go and make revolutions, not just getting a justified support.