Great points. VCs (and larger angels) will tell you all day long that there's no such thing as pitching too early (cf. http://www.thisisgoingtobebig.com/blog/2009/10/19/never-too-...). It's simply not true. As Rand mentions the power dynamics in those talks are entirely one-sided (not your side).
This isn't black and white and investors are great at playing the game. Often they'll send an associate your way in the early stages (or send you back down to an associate after a MD intro). If this happens, insist on talking to the MD. If they agree, they're interested and possibly trying to mask that interest. If they don't, they're not interested and just trying to "hang around the rim".
Unless you love pitching, don't spend time with investors that don't have partners chasing YOU.
This isn't black and white and investors are great at playing the game. Often they'll send an associate your way in the early stages (or send you back down to an associate after a MD intro). If this happens, insist on talking to the MD. If they agree, they're interested and possibly trying to mask that interest. If they don't, they're not interested and just trying to "hang around the rim".
Unless you love pitching, don't spend time with investors that don't have partners chasing YOU.