Calling DEC probably wouldn't have done you any good either, unless you could get ahold of an insider that took interest in you.

I did tech support for DEC's Starion line of Windows PCs. I'd get the occasional call from someone wanting help with a VAX or a Rainbow or some other piece of DEC kit. But a lot of DEC's customer support was actually handled by 3rd party companies, including the one I worked for, and we had no way of connecting people to anyone from DEC itself.

Compaq killed off most of the online resources for DEC equipment fairly quickly. I always thought DEC deserved a better death... But at least it was better than being bought by Oracle.

It could have been worse... think of when Sun was bought by Oracle.