VR still uses his Vela with proudness on stage. Hereby I assume he's fine with that particular instrument.
One of Reverend's ambassador is Greg Koch. He was Fender's demonstrator as Mr. Tele. But Fender was neither willing building him a signature, nor willing to integrate his Fishman pickup set in a Tele officially. But Reverend was open and launched a T-model signature with a Koa-Body, maple neck, the Fishman set to offer either Black or White Guard voicing.
Sometimes it is to balance core chance or core risk.