I'm not desperate to find out. But I do find who actually makes bats for who is one the more interesting topics on a forum which is essentially about cricket bat
making.
A 'story' where a manufacturer clearly priorises work for other brands over its own would be especially intersting to me, and and an indicator of exactly where the industry is at right now.
People get very touchy about this stuff, don't they? Especially those who are themselves involved in sticker brands, it seems. (Unless we are talking about M&H when it becomes a pile on!)
Jake's answer was a 'grey' one. Whether deliberately so, I really don't know. But I wouldn't have been at all bothered if he had said nothing at all. He doesn't owe me anything, like you say.
I certainly can't be bothered with does it matter/doesn't it matter?/'haven't you got anything better with your time?' arguments again.
As it happens, I have for several years always recommended Hunts bats as a VFM option to young cricketers I know.