Dave,
Sparc International is actually a non-profit entity that owns the Sparc architecture, trademarks, etc. They have a membership of over 30 companies with a couple of big ones being Sun Microsystems, Fujitsu, Toshiba, and Motorola.
http://www.sparc.org/members.html
This looks more like an example of "aggressively" defending their trademark which pushes them right to the edge of absurd. Rather than considering not to use a particular company's product it may work better to contact some of the member companies and voice your disapproval of the actions of their group's lawyers. I suspect this may have a more desirable effect.
Ken