With a portable CMM arm, 3D laser scanner and 5-axis milling machine - making a rep level copy of the cases is a relatively straightforward process. - We use the exact same process to reverse-engineer (aka. copy) complex shaped mechanical engineering components.
Sounds awesome - how about a clone movement of some RM models or an ultra thin AP? Hehe
and to give OP some input - nobody of the head of those rep companies will step out of the shadow to celebrate themselves as the rep kings - of course they most presumably drive their lambos or ferraris while rocking the gen counterparts but of course not under the light of being in the illegal rep industry.
So you won‘t ever know who’s is to credit for some of the recent high end reps which are awesome pieces for the money they cost - i totally understand your point and often this euphoric mood isn‘t accompanied by rationality - so we have to keep that in mind while try to burst the bubble of the super enthusiastic watch loving rep makers who admire the gen designs like we do...
I also can understand that it is morally questionable what they do and if they should get appreciation in such a way when it is really only about business.
In the end i feel your admiration as the reps feel solid and well engineered - if you keep in mind that they will never be like the gen (beside some PAMs...)
They are a good alternative and that is the reason many of us stick around, started with some cheaper reps way back in the day, continued with some high end ones and sometimes even chose the franken and then gen route.
Factory insights like angus delivered them are a good read if you are interested in how the whole system over there works. - look up the thread in his section.
and it is even more interesting when imagining that there are people who really try to compete with some of the biggest brands to achieve something similar at a fraction of cost - beside the ethical part this is quite ballsy - to even start and attempt a decent result even if it is all about business.