And, TBH, if they aren't a Solution Provider, there's unfortunately less leverage to get them to continue to support you. Worth checking your contract with them, to see what's provided.

Is that partly because Netsuite Partners are more incentivized to do well by things like Partner of the Year awards?

More that it's a long term partnership they have with NetSuite, it's in their interest to keep their customers happy. Someone who's simply a "NetSuite Consultant" really has nothing in the game.