About the only thing a rip-off,(clone) is good for is to find out what you would want in a mech mod.
PS - Ever see a PS at the beginning of a post? After writing this long-winded post, I think I should perhaps back off the nicotine a bit today, LOL. I've gone through and colored a few lines in blue that are the highlights of this gem - feel free to skip the rest, unless you're truly interested in the subject.
I hope this doesn't spark a clone debate (seems the subject comes up in EVERY thread on EVERY forum), but I can think of a few more reasons.
I 100% agree with what you said - clones are great for deciding if you like a certain mech or atty, before spending a ton of cash on the real deal. The key is finding something you like and following through with getting the real one. I have a somewhat large collection of clone mods and attys, which has led to the purchase of only a few real ones. The cones sit there doing nothing but make my vape stand look more impressive to those "not in the know". I have a few clone mods and attys that turned out to be nowhere near what I was expecting, and am so glad I didn't waste my money on an authentic.
While you have to keep in mind certain quality differences between clones and authentics, the overall usability is the same. In one example, I got a clone dripper that turned out to have the coil too close to the bottom of the drip tip, so all it does is shoot hot comets down my throat. No thanks. On the other hand, I got a clone Origen v2 and loved it so much I now have a real one. Same with the Atmomixani Dome, Nemesis (of which I now have 3). Although the 3D was a great idea, in practice I found it all but a useless gimmick. Maybe if you don't sub-ohm and burn through juice like I do, it would be more suitable.
But, clones are also good in environments where you have a high risk of damage, theft, loss, etc. I usually take a clone mech to trade shows, because I get easily distracted and end up leaving it at a booth several times a day. If it disappeared, it's just a cheap clone, no big deal. I also go to several desert events (like Burning Man, which has a very alkaline sand/dust that eats metals and destroys electronics). I'd also never bring an authentic on a boat - heard too many stories of people dropping them overboard, where there's no chance of retrieval. I also bring a clone to work, because there are 400 people in the building, and things disappear from people's desks all the time. But, anywhere else I can keep the mod with me all the time, the authentics really do work better.
Then there's always the chance of running into the actual modder, and it'd be a little awkward if you're using a clone of their product. Happened to me 3x so far. I've run into the original modder of the Mankos mods, who was visiting my neighbor as I went out to get the trash cans, though I don't own either clone or authentic. I've run into the MAD Industries Penny Mod modder (of which I have an authentic), and the Mutant modder who asked what my serial number was in casual conversation. I figured I'd be safe bringing my Nemesis clone to ECC last weekend, as Atmomixani weren't on the guest list, however they were there according to the VapeRev booth, who said Atmomixani dropped off a bunch of Nemesis 30mm/26650 mods (which all sold out in a few hours). So, you never know...
But, whatever your stance is on clones vs authentics, it's an endless debate that will never have any resolution. The industry is starting to take a stance however. ECC didn't allow vendors to sell clones, and one vendor that broke that rule got served papers at ECC (video's on YouTube). ECF no longer allows vendors to sell clones (but does allow private people to sell in the classifieds). There are also a large number of American modders making new authentic mods at around the $100 price point (some even less), so they're much more affordable (some authentics go upwards of $300+, so you can't really fault someone buying a clone).
Anyway, to each their own - we (the private individuals) need to let it be, and the industry has to solve their own problems. Clones/counterfeits/pirate copies/etc. have forever been an issue in every industry - it's nothing new to vaping, which is why the debate is truly endless and pointless. I work as a Digital Media Engineer, and pirate copies of movies and music directly affects my business, but there too is a debate.
A pirated movie isn't necessarily a lost sale (as most would never have purchased it if that were the only option), and there's no doubt there are lost sales, but the flip side is how many more sales are generated due to exposure from one person telling their friends how great the movie was? Perhaps one lost sale creates 3 sales that would never have happened otherwise. Perhaps the same is true in the modding world - exposure might actually generate sales. Nobody can track those numbers though. Some modders accept and even embrace cloning, and
others go on the legal warpath and create an excessive amount of negative PR in the process (ahem, V3, Hana, etc.).
IMHO, and this is my just my opinion, the only two issues anyone should have with the whole debate is clones/counterfeits being sold as if they were authentic, and duplicating a copyrighted logo - there's no excuse for either of those, and I think everyone can agree on that.
PPS - Keeping this somewhat on topic, when I first became a "mountaineer", I saw another drip tip manufacturer make a tip from the same unique material, and wrote an email to Doug claiming they copied his idea. He then educated me on how they source materials to make most of the tips, and everyone has access to most of those materials. Of course, they do make some of their own materials, and Kayte's artwork is of course unique, which along with the quality of workmanship, sets them apart from the rest. I don't see any other tip maker with a following like Kayte and Doug have. Say no more (no, really John, say no more! LOL)
