That’s an inaccurate statement. You’re a client because you can fire them and hire someone else. This is also true for basically any type of agent.

Just because they have a vested interest in your success doesn’t make you a product.

That’s not necessarily true. I’ve asked to join meetings that were only tangentially related to my department so I knew what was being worked on so I could do my job effectively if they needed me.

But I’m usually working during most meetings.