Compaq bought DEC, got into trouble and got bought by HP. It was a fairly short time line between rescuing DEC and needing their own rescue. How is that a good out come? I am not saying buying DEC brought them down but it certainly didn't save them from impending doom.

As far as Sun goes there is a much longer time line between the Netscape purchase and there own, but the way Sun fell apart until its eventual purchase isn't what I would call a paragon of success.