I experienced the same thing as you did, Mark... ...."woulda/coulda/shoulda".
Back in Dec22/Jan23 I was in touch w/ Chris to buy a set of plans, and he would have sold them as long as a confidentiality
form was signed. But, I took my time and didn't follow-through.
Just a few weeks ago I decided it was time to do it, but my email to Chris was forwarded/answered by the business manager of the new owner.
They told me that liability issues were the reason 'plans only' were no longer an option.
I'm in complete agreement with Chris' statement above, about the intellectual property aspect.