49er, you are so right! Besides that, putting time performance limits on potential partners can be alienating. The only time such behavior and be constructive, in my opinion, is in the midst of a bidding war, which is an exceedingly rare event. Even then, it's usually the potential partner asking the target company to accept a proposal by a specified date.

...and one should never formally close and open door, lest one be left with no options.