I'm afraid (and there are threads extant to prove it, including this one) that there is evidence of a greater degree
of unconcern at this kind of copying on UK forums. (*)
I don't see why Derek should retract or apologise for an observation
which is based on fact.
Indeed, this thread seems more concerned with justification or defense of buying knockoffs, rather than denials.
BugBear
(*) this is a relative statement. If 2% of people seem unconcerned on 1 forum, and 5% seem unconcerned on another forum, the second forum has over twice as many unconcerned people as the former, despite the proportion still being only 5%
I had a quick look at that US forum thread linked to earlier, I get the sense it's a case of "it's OK if we copy, but if others do it then it's fakes, piracy etc". I guess in the UK there's less of that attitude in regards to woodworking tools, given that most of Record's planes were exact copies of Stanley planes and I don't think anybody's ever regarded a Record plane as a fake or counterfeit!
I think there's an accusation that the UK sellers of the cheaper tools participate in forums and engage with customers and that's why the so-called fakes are accepted here.
I don't think anyone needs justification in buying cheaper tools, because the expensive version are in themselves copies!