A quick update: The following information is what I have received DIRECTLY FROM KEYSIGHT:
1) The following is from a telephone conversation with a technician who works on 34465A's at Keysight's Roseville, CA facility. He was unequivocal about this:
For the 34465A (and some other newer instruments), Keysight ALWAYS PERFORMS AN ADJUSTMENT. In fact, what they do is:
a) Take a set of "as received" readings,
b)
Perform the adjustment, and
c) Take a set of "as adjusted" readings.
Following completion of this process, the unit should be "adjusted" as well as it was when it left the factory new.
2) As part of the service agreement, Keysight provides the following statement IN WRITING:
"If the unit is sent in for calibration only, and fails, a new quote will be issued adding repair to your calibration request. If you reject the quote, 50% of the calibration cost will be charged."
Answer #1 is precisely what I had hoped for in the first place. (It was fear that this would not happen that led to my snarky remark in the original posting. I'm swearing off snarky remarks!!
) Not surprisingly the software assessment/adjustment process is sufficiently automated so there is no point in not doing an adjustment. Having gotten this information, I immediately paid my money, boxed up the unit, and shipped it back to Roseville.
Answer #2 makes sense and seems reasonable to me. (I don't anticipate that my unit will need repair.)
So, at the moment, I am completely on-board with Keysight's processes and policies for the 34465A. I do, however, wish that their website (which indicates that the "adjustment" is conditional) was correct. I'll post an update when I get the unit back, to confirm what actually happened...
(BTW, it took several attempts, and the starting of a service agreement, to get through to someone who could actually answer my question, but it eventually did work...)