This is very true. In 20 years the Chinese market will have matured and gone the same way as the Japanese did. 1st world elitists or 1st world people who frown upon low quality, cheap copies, whatever point of view one takes, credit will have to be earned, not stolen. Japanese products have now been proven when it comes to quality. However, regarding design, I think there is still too little originality.
I think, as an example, that the new GTR is as an original design as we can hope for these days. So too the hideous Prius and Insight - but you have to admit they do look like nothing else on the road so kudos for their product originality. When it comes to automobiles with 4 wheels, how original is anyone being these days really? Philosophically, a car is a car and any noteworthy difference lies at a detail level. So now, how original are we expecting or wanting a Sony Bravia TV to be? In this day and age, there's precious little true originality out there. I run two gorgeous Babolat Aero Strike frames - designed in France, marketed by a Spaniard, made in China. I am gloriously happy that they're made in China because: a) it keeps the hefty price down - despite the premium quality and feel b) if made by a Frenchman, would break on the first serve and I'd be told not to buy a French product because I wasn't from an EU member country if I sought recourse.
