Great post as usual!
Na'... I'm wingin' it, just like everyone else. You tend to be pretty lucid yourself, Chuck. 
Now we have some numbers to throw around when people claim clones are of inferior quality.
Well - at least the (far too) limited EhPro sample I've had occasion to stare at.
You seem to have a good deal of experience with the EHPro Caravela, are there any differences you've noticed between the marked and non-marked ones? I have the older "DX whatever" marked ones without the actual Caravela marks, and the very small diameter button shaft stuck out as a non-ideal situation, and I heard the newer, marked ones had changed something with the switch.
The couple that I have here, and a few others nearby that I've had occasion to take apart, stare at and measure, are, with minor dimensional differences, all the same and all "sterile" with no markings at all... being special order co-op items.
I'd like to get my hands on a range of them, with and without markings, logos etc. so I could see first hand any variations. You mention "small diameter button shaft"... have you encountered other sizes? I have not.
What all did they change between the two, and how would you say it has effected the performance or feel? I ask because you mention preferring the older ones, and I wasn't sure if that was a performance-related preference or more out of respect to the real deal. Although the small shaft does make for some button wobble I've never had misfires, and actually it's been one of the smoothest and most consistent buttons I've had on any mech, real or clone. After shimming it to shorten the throw, I can tap anywhere on the button with the lightest touch and it fires up strongly.
I use the term "older ones" as a reference of time, not of model dimensional variations... at least none that I've measured to date. Although I have access to a genuine Caravela, I've not taken it apart for measurement - and I've been told by folks with more familiarity that Caravelas have seen a few small dimensional changes... so comparison would be difficult.
I'm with you on button feel and consistency... after break-in, they work exceptionally well (for the dollar investment) - or at least the ones I've tuned up do.
Sounds nice too, very "clanky and clacky" instead of "clicky and tappy" if that makes any sense
Kinda like chamber-checking a 1911.
My most broken in ones are, like my 1911s - silent... goes nicely with the sterile finish. ;-)
Just making sure EHPro didn't screw something up with their v2s. The EHpro is a very very nice piece, regardless of its clone status. The HCigar definitely feels much cheaper by comparison, caps and tubes don't fit as well, much lighter and thinner tubing. 510 was a bit crunchy at first as well. Still nice, but nothing compared to the look and feel of the EHPro.
