The high end recievers can be bound one of two ways, I forget the name for it but you put it into bind mode then remove the bind plug and put the sticks/switches where you want everything and that will be your failsafe position. If you leave the bind plug in then you get the same behavior that you're seeing, throttle cut and hold on the surfaces.

The guy you talked to first could probably take apart a Saito 4 stroke blindfolded, it all depends on who picks up the phone when you call