I did not know that. However the article you pointed to says that they made it to convey a very serious point through humor. Since I have never seen that point made more effectively, kudos to them and I'll continue to recommend the video when the underlying point is appropriate.

How can publishing something like that help their efforts?

Likewise, were they responsible for the "Windows 7 Launch Party" video?

The idea is obviously to communicate to the people who are part of a broken marketing process exactly how their well-intentioned efforts to improve Microsoft's marketing are failing to work.

With the hope, obviously, of reforming the process.