Try to participate in some of the CT contests, the odds are better. Big corporate contests are mainly marketing ploys anyway.
Sure are. No other point than to use a contest or sweepstakes to bring attention to your company or product/services, locate new customers, get a new mailing list, gather customer profile data, etc. There's no big corporate contest that is holding a contest just to give stuff away for nothing in return. Even 'customer appreciation' programs help to retain existing customers and gauge interest, income levels, and other background on customers.