On 99% of series they would have been correct. WD is definitely the exception, not the rule.
Edit: I didn't even realize that I'm the 'they' in your post. Keep thinking I don't know what I'm talking about - I was able to take that money I got from my Walking Dead run and turn it into AT LEAST 2 nights of fun in Atlantic City. Now I'm married, so although the books are worth 3x as much, all the memories of hookers and blow are priceless.
So when you get married you are supposed to stop the hookers and blow? Oh .... I just got married - guess I need to change my ways!