Yeah, the idea was really to develop and mature the players and then kick them out.
Given this philosophy, it's surprising that Wayne--with all his talent--was there for 5 years.
I don't think so. He had ambitions and was achieving them until he got the rug pulled out from under him, first by CBS,k then by Union Planters.
I've searched in vain to find any indication that his real error was doing anything other than pushing back against CBS when they sought to unilaterally renegotiate a contract. That might have been foolish, but it was noble, imo. The Union Planters affair was a sham, the bank screwing over the company to cover their own ass. Exoneration of Bell came, but only after the assets had all been seized.
I find it interesting (and valedictory) that he eventually went to work for Barry Gordy when Gordy was navigating the sale of Motown to MCA.