[hobbyhacker]

Cheaper but otherwise the same is better.

[taligent]

Sure. If your world view is really narrow.

The issue with knockoffs is that they discourage medium to longer term investment in favour of a short term race to the bottom. Which is not 'better' for anyone.

[coecoventures]

Exactly. Once that is gone the ability to amortize development costs over the course of a product cycle disappears. It's the tragedy of the commons.