I think that not all drummers march to the beat of the same drum, in that sense. To some (most?), gear is a means to an end: "Give me the drums for free (or pay me to play them), and I'll play them." That sort of thing. I think it takes a relatively rare bird to 1) get with a company, 2) work with them over the years to remain fulfilled, and then 3) stay with them for any number of years. And I think it's historically been different in the US than in Europe, in terms of support with a European company like Sonor.
Maybe, years ago, guys like Chester had some issues getting support like @krusher74 implied, so he moved to what all the cool kids were playing at the time: DW.
Tom Betka
Stevens Point, WI
Sonor Vintage (marine pearl finish): 6.5x14, 10, 12, 13, 14ft, 16ft, 18ft, 22