Istock sent me an email to take the survey about their uploading and submitting system. So, I clicked to fill-out the survey, and then they started asking questions like, do I have a studio or not, do I have professional lighting equipment, do I hire professional models....
What kind of questions are that? What does this have with uploading process? My conclusion is that Istock just wants to learn more, to make some future changes, that will make the business better for "all of us".
What do you think?

I started doing the survey but stopped when there were too many questions completely unrelated to the topic.

You can find out if someone has a studio and hires professional models in 5 seconds, just glance at their portfolio. 

Doing a survey doesn't give good data because you will not get a representative sample, and in any case people will lie or exaggerate.  But that may not be the point ...

I didn't get the survey but from the sound of these questions I'd say they're thinking of culling the herd.

...
I didn't get the survey but from the sound of these questions I'd say they're thinking of culling the herd.

OK I just found the survey, I didn't notice it at first in my inbox because it looked like junk mail.

I did the survey, and changed my mind about its purpose.  It looks like they're mostly trying to get ideas about what to do about the upload process to speed it up for people who upload a lot.

Not sure about the questions about equipment, studio and models because as I said this can be deduced pretty accurately and quickly from looking at people's portfolios (and EXIFs, for the people who don't strip them).  Maybe they have something built into their spreadsheet for analyzing the survey data which differentiates the opinions of people shooting at a pro vs. amateur level.

It is just data. They don't really have to have a purpose for collecting it. They can just collect it and decide how they want to use it later. I thought the more detailed stuff was in relation to the topic, uploading.

The most interesting question I saw was about doing the keywording yourself versus an editor doing it.

for a while I thought they were eventually considering a normal upload process including FTP and proper IPTC import

but after reading their survey questions, I am afraid they aren't

for those uploading to IS, deepmeta is the only good option

I filled out the survey and wondered if it was originally only sent to exclusives, sounds like they sent it to all contributors.  Anyhow, I filled it out and couldn't figure out why they wanted that other info or why they need to ask about FTP upload process when people have been suggesting that in the iStock suggestion forum for years.  I'm sure there is some other reason behind wanting all that information.  Personally I use a mix of professional models and volunteer/amateurs - but they didnt have that option so I just selected that "yes, I use professional models."  It really depends on the shoot.  I've even hired a makeup artist and hairstylists for certain shoots - though, granted, not the majority of my shoots - too tight of a budget!  

sort of on topic, though-- with just about 14 days left in my '30 day waiting period' to drop my exclusivity at iStock, I got my first taste of the upload process at a few other sites.  (some will let me apply and upload without selling anything until my contract at iStock is up, thus not breaking my contract there).  And wow!  so much easier than iStock's lame upload process.  Granted, I use Deepmeta now, but sometimes you still have to use that antiquated upload system at iStock.

Seriously, I totally agree with you, pdx,  they go through all that trouble and work with the site redesign F'n F5 or whatever .. and they don't even upgrade the upload process?  they are only NOW sending out a survey about it?  talk about deaf ears.  I guess it really has been a long time since they actually listened to contributors.  Sure could have saved a lot of time on that survey by just listening to contributors and reading their own suggestion forum.

And the list of things they broke that were once working (the list for extended licenses that no longer has a date column, for example).

instead they give us video faqs 

Stupid think is that you can fill only one survey.
If you have splited port 50/50 or 30/30/30% like as illustrator and photographer or videographer???
Anyhow I checked everything as very poor like as is.