I think Mr. Bourret is a good agent - for his clients. But he was a dickwad to me, and I reserve the right to say, "That dude was a dickwad to me."
FWIW, getting no answers on requested manuscripts is, unfortunately, par for the course -- and not just with agents. Ditto with many editors, when agents submit requested works to those editors. Waiting -- sometimes for a very, very long time -- is part of the process. It's not fun, and it's horribly frustrating. But it's how it goes -- especially since September, when everything in the economy started going kablooey. You've heard about the layoffs and restructuring at the big houses, yeah? S&S, Random House, HC... Editors are losing their jobs and their entire reporting structure (and, thus, acquisitions structure) has changed...and agents not only have to stay on top of who's now where and accepting what and making sure submissions are still under consideration, but they also have to calm down panicky clients who don't know what's going to happen now that their editor has been laid off.
So...yeah, no answer on a requested manuscript after 10 months stinks. But I think the waiting times are probably going to get even longer in 2009 -- and that's all around. Try to be patient, and absolutely don't wait on one agent to get back to you. Keep querying.
An example of horrible waiting times: I've had a project on submission with editors since January 2008. Yes, more than 13 months. A requested manuscript. With editors. Another editor had a requested partial -- given to her by another editor at her house -- since September 2007. Uh huh. Seriously.
But when it's the right project with the right editor (or right agent) at the right time, things move fast. One project had gone out last year, and after 3 months we had strong interest but no offers. And then the right editor read it and made an offer four days later.
Would it be better if agents (and editors) got back to authors (and agents) in a more timely fashion? Certainly, for us. Heck, I'd be a lot less high-strung if response time was faster all around. But it is what it is.
Meanwhile...keep querying. And start another project. Good luck