Do developers favor them. Do they have an unfair advantage for projects. How much work do they actually do on their designs.
Anthony
Sure they favor them... they're a default choice. I wouldn't call it an unfair advantage, it's the advantage of celebrity. But their methods come with disadvantages that can be compared and contrasted. Gil did this by offering to move to the site. That is a huge difference, about 42 times what the McSigs usually provide, and one that really matters.
It's like going down the street in a town you don't know and you want a burger. There's a local shop and a known brand. Most go to the known brand. Unless the parking lot of the local shop is overflowing, you're not likely to drop in. People aren't going to do the homework, spend the time to find out if the local shop is any good. Same thing with golf architects.
There are times someone who understands the business and isn't interested in following the pack (instead prefers to contrast and save a pretty penny in the process while getting a wholly individual project) who does their homework and chooses a craftsman. This is rare.
That said, every project offers an architect to prove himself and rise up through the ranks the hard way. If I had my choice I'd love a Big Box, default architect to have projects next door, so folks could easily compare and contrast.