After rereading post 877, here are my thoughts:
-agent is an individual
-customers are legit companies that can issue invitation letters
-agent will lose face on both sides and risk being cut out of the equation if he/she tells the truth
-agent wlll incur unnecessary work for self by facilitating process (I.e. hand holding required)

Under these circumstances, my advice is to go with the tourist visa. That having been said, if the above poster doesn't want to be branded as a tourist for the next ten years, now is the time to act, and I'm happy to advise as needed.