While the costs on the originals is sometimes insane, they have an expense that the cloners don't; R&D. You can use a CMM to take dimensional readings on almost anything and generate a quick CAD file that will allow you to replicate it, basically in a matter of hours (or minutes!). But you have to pay for design work, trial and error, testing, and materials on an original. And all of that money is non-returned investments until you start selling finished final version products. So the manufacturers have to recover that cost via price.
Now, is the price only for profitability, or is there some dig there? Without seeing the books of each company, I can't tell you that. What I can tell you is that an engineering effort, machining trials, usage trials, and final approval processes all cost a good deal of money, whereas having a CAD-savvy machinist take some CMM measurements, specify the threads, spec a parts and materials list, scan images of logos, etc. is relatively cheap, and much cheaper in China than here. Takes about an 8 hour day to finalize the design and make a first prototype on a CNC machining rig. Thousands of dollars in R&D or less than $250 in CAD and CNC. Weeks or months or work, or less than a day (a week at worst) of measuring and tweaking. There is a reason that China could take a $300 device and make it profitably for a $30 return; the burden of the initial investment is null and void to them, they don't have one to worry about.
Now let's put this in perspective; do you ..... about if the Sara Lee box of cake mix you just bought is a clone of the Betty Crocker box right down the shelf? .... no, you just buy what you want, and you don't feel an ounce of guilt while you're making your ... bigger with each bite. Do you feel guilty for learning how to make your favorite food cheaper at home, rather than go to the restaurant you were ordering it from? .... no, you just eat more vindaloo. Would you feel bad about building your own PC, which happens to have almost the exact same specs as one that is on the market? .... no, you just surf ECF while blasting out thunderheads.
Bottom line on clones. You are probably getting a slightly lower quality product, but by and large, that difference is in an aspect that will never matter to you as a user. My Trident clone is a bit more cheaply made than my original, but I use the clone more often, owing to differences in the airhole sizes. That being said, it's the difference between 303 and 304 stainless steel, which makes no difference to me, and not having a perfect finish...I am going to beat my atty up anyways. Now I just don't have to feel bad about ruining a mirror finish that I never had anyways. Remember, this is capitalism, not alchemy. We don't have to abide by the laws of equivalency. If something can be obtained either by giving a lot or a little, I see no reason to give a lot unless I feel like that path will satisfy me more. Human nature my friends, as we are always saying, follow the money.
My only caveat would be to try to not support cloners that copy the logos and try to make the clone look like a genuine article. The purpose of that isn't to make you feel better about having it look exactly like the original; the purpose is to sell them as real. China has a long history of counterfeiting (Calvin Klone, etc.). Look up US currency counterfeiting internationally, China has lead that list for decades. Do no feel guilt. Simply know that counterfeiting should be discouraged, while free enterprise and innovation should be rewarded. BTW, do any of these 'poor souls' that are getting 'ripped off' actually hold a patent on their devices? Cause if not, it's fair game anyways. Legally, not speaking to the morals.
