In many respects SEO has become like product placement in films. Do the stars really prefer brand X to smoke, drink, drive etc? Of course not. The brands pay to feature in films. Now the brands pay to feature on the SERPs. Either through an intermediary SEO or through pay per click.
Yes, may be.
One of the most popular Tv programs on Norwegian Tv, "Hotel Cesar" does exactly what you say, David. Brands are shown in seconds. I have been told that they are shown so fast that you (consciously) nearly do not register them.
But people love the program, I think it has been there for more than 4 years.