Something I suspect you can relate to, S:
I've always considered Joe to be the Vince McMahon of bodybuilding. Without his vision, enthusiasm, and intellect, bodybuilding would very likely have vanished into obscurity. Joe took and kept top-level bodybuilding mainstream and has allowed a lot of folks to earn a damn nice living from it.
Look at some of the most successful figures in the industry like Gaspari, Labrada, Everson, Arnold, Lorimer, Kennedy, Blechman, etc. They all busted their asses to climb to the top of the industry, but if it wasn't for Weider, there may have been no such industry to conquer.
My first weight set and bench were Weider. My first bodybuilding magazine was Weider. And, I could tell you about my first protein powder, which was Weider too, but you only want positive comments.