I don't post much armchair material, but Honnold is an interesting subject. I don't think it's likely that he chooses solos based on pressure from sponsors. Not to say that it doesn't enter his mind, because he's said his motivations have gotten tricker to navigate over the years. But to do the things he's doing, as cutting edge as this stuff is, at the end of the day I'm he's making the call that's right for him, whatever that is.
In terms of the media stuff, almost all the footage is staged after the fact. Doesn't change the risk of course, but I think it says something about the process. I'm sure he has the power to say "no"; after all, what can a given sponsor do? Let him go? He'll be snapped up by another one in a heartbeat.
All that's certain is that he's way out there, on another level. We can't even speculate on this stuff. When I see footage of him, it just reminds me that amazing things are possible. The results of his pushing the limits may end up being disastrous, but if such a thing does happen I hope there won't be countless "I told you so-s". He really is something else, and hopefully that fact won't get lost in the discussion of whether or not he should be doing what he is doing.
After all, Patrick Edlinger (sp?) soloed like crazy in the Verdon and literally died falling down the stairs.
