Then they should have gone with an ETA automatic movement. They have access to them, and at this point the high end rep market is using high quality automatic movements.
Besides, the whole point of the replica market is to have an omega on your wrist, not a Swatch.
An ETA automatic chronograph movement would have put this watch over $1000, maybe less if they kept all the other materials and manufacturing the same, but still a significant multiplier over what it costs as it stands.
That would have dramatically increased the cost of the watch though, to the point that I don't think it would have made such an interesting proposition for customers.
Sure, but Swatch have been adding auto movements to watches for 30 years. The Sistem51 is almost good enough to be COSC certified. All cheaper than the MoonSwatch pricepoint.
IMO they could have put an auto movement in, but then it becomes waaaay closer to a Speedy and way more likely that people start going "is the 5k price difference worth it?"
Besides, the whole point of the replica market is to have an omega on your wrist, not a Swatch.