Endorsement deals run out all the time.
I think if you really like something, you'd put your name to it till something better comes along, or someone offers you a better deal.
If you can be bought out of using gear it suggests you probably didnt care much about that gear, so that endorsement didn't really mean much.
Would Krank have just said "oh your endorsement deal ran out, but its ok because we don't really need you" or would they have tried to keep him on board?
In any case, I think if artists start changing up what they are using it just weakens how serious their endorsement of that kit actual is.
It's always impressive if someone has used the same gear for a long time. you know they love it. do you know what im getting at?