I'm in the 'more MTL attention plz' category as well. The Kayfun Prime and 5 have been getting a massive surge in clones and availability lately - thinking the trend is maybe showing a little more? Fine by me, get some good companies in here to make some good attys that function better, grab that market share. Lord knows I've wasted a bit of money chasing authentic "Kayfun Killers" that all now just sit in the box.
I'd like to see more wood. Not stab-wood, as nice as it may be, I'm talking.... more like the Treebox and Treebox Plus. Bigger, better produced, but not necessarily a hand-made, custom to order $400 block. There's so much to be had in treatment, wood types, stains... just my preference, what I wish I could find more of.
...nuts to it, I really think I'm going to try and make my own one of these days. Been watching a couple threads and doing a little research about people cannibalizing a, say, Pico and using the internals in a custom made box. But that's neither here nor there.
edited to add:
Create multiple versions of the same product for different price ranges. A “Basic” version made with less expensive components and fewer aesthetic bonuses priced low enough that people who buy clones can look at it and say “Oh, the basic version of this Authentic isn’t too much more expensive than the clone. I can afford that” in order to take some customers away from the mass producing clone manufacturers. Then have an “Upgraded” version with better components and maybe some engravings to make it look nicer...for someone that has some more cash on hand and doesn’t mind using it for a better product.
Ab-so-lutely agree with this. I've, more than once now, felt so pleased with a Mod that I considered, still am, getting a second one. Now, if I could drop the initial $40 on a base-line model, give it a whirl - that entry level price tag isn't a killer. If it's a dud, it's a dud, that's the game. But if it tickles my bearded butt in just the right way, and I feel so inclined to either buy another or an upgraded version with
more on it for a bit more, I would absolutely do that.
I dunno, that just sounds like a good idea. Objectively looking at it, I can see that being a
gigantic pain in the ass for manufacturers, but from a strictly consumer focused point of view, that would be great to have those options.