I agree. However keep in mind these are still at the whim of the factory where they are produced. Nike had a problem years ago. Nike shoes produced in a Nike plant, that were completed and defective, were sold out the back door instead of being destroyed. Many SVD problems have been reported. This could be the same situation. Are they authentic? Sure. Just rejects.
And pigs
could fly, if they had wings. The scratch and sniff code is on the box. Rejects don't make it to boxing and even if they did, the code is on the box and not the product so it would still pass for authenticity. There has never, ever, been a case of this being reported. Your point about the SVD is even more obtuse. That is just something that one imagines "could" happen, much like pigs with wings.
There has never been a legitimate case of a non-authentic MVP reported. Ever. Period.
Here is my take. The authorized vendors cannot discount to retail. But they can to resellers. The low price places are buying from vendors and reselling. Everyone makes money and we get a better price. But if you get a bad one, it gets iffy.
You would go to the vendor not Innokin if you have a problem. Lets say by some, so far unheard of instance, you have an non-working, non-authentic MVP. You would not return it to Innokin, you would return it to the vendor and the vendor knows what he sold you. Once again the point is mute.
I don't know why this issue bothers me so much, but it does

I just think it is a corporate con game and it bothers me when someone I'm handing my money to tries to manipulate me. You better be giving me more than a vape if you want to manipulate ME!