Been there.
Back when I was actively doing comics, we had an idea for a six-issue 48 page mini-series. Bernie Wrightson, who was going to be in it, suggested that I pitch it to a specific company (which no longer exists) and said to mention that he specifically had told me to do so.
I sent in a rather detailed pitch, showing the concept, some of the characters, the list of all the artists/writers who were going to be in it, etc, along with a few samples of the art, etc.
I got back a rejection, stating that they didn't need a four issue, 96 page mini-series that they'd have to charge $10 an issue to break even with. (huh?)
When Bernie called his friend (who was the publisher) and asked him about this, the publisher had never even see it (although it was addressed directly to him). Of course, by that time, interest in the project was dying out and we wound up shelving it completely. Apparently some "staffer" had intercepted the pitch and the rest, shall we say, was history.
Sigh.