Yes your right. We have run across this more than a few times and it’s A) They really don’t know what they are doing as far as quoting a job. B) Seeing if you are the real thing.
And of course playing the base line game.
I’ve worked in sales as well and no one needs to know what your budget is but you. For giggles though lie to them. Tell them you have 100k to play with to see just what would happen.
Something to keep in mind when it comes to commissioned art work that I got tagged on once. IP assets and copyright belongs to the original creator, even if your concept, so be sure that your contract is as work for hire and not as a commission on completed works. If you come up with the next Angry Birds some else could very well own the character copyrights.