I checked the manual at sierrahelp.com and pages 13-23 contain just a lot of addresses and phone numbers at Sierra. The hints section you mention is just phone numbers you can call for hints and information on how much it costs you. There's also a money-back guarantee for a month in return for telling why you didn't like the game, and some warranty information. All of it outdated, in all likelihood.
I can see why they wouldn't want to ship this information. Still, I don't like being sold incomplete goods. Would be better to just include a note saying the manual is reproduced as it was printed at the time of release, and that the reader should understand that any services offered at the time have probably long since ceased to exist.