[Yamer]

The tone of the final email rubbed me the wrong way too, but you seem to recognize the information he was able to offer and seem grateful regardless. That's good, but I think you're justified in thinking that final message was off-putting.

The person shot himself in the foot by burning the bridge of cross-referrals and word of mouth, IMO. Had he known someone in the same industry that he could help out it would find returns. I've found that's a big thing especially for small businesses, regardless how far you're separated. Whenever someone gives me a lead to another service I always let that service know who sent me and I'm more likely to refer to them first.