the outfitter is probably just saying that as poles are a pain to pack on a raft, unless you have a break down version that you could pack while protecting the tips so that they don't puncture the boat.

At least, being a rafter and a hiker, and someone who hears enough stories about outfitters being full of it...that's what I think.

Technique is pretty critical to most effective use of hiking poles, but I guess we all know that, eh?