Instead Friedcat has just become Inaba2.0
While I completely understand your irritation with the recent pricing adjustment (I share your frustration), I don't believe this is a fair comparison to make, all things considered.
I was implying that the damage he is doing to their brand is as bad as Inaba has done for BFL. I think you will see that if they don't adopt a new pricing policy that they will not become the player they wish to be. BKKCoins knock off is coming faster than you might think and there are hundreds of qualified engineers all around the world trying to duplicate this device.
Volkswagen is the largest car company in the world because they appeal to the common man with their rock solid low priced offerings. Friedcat tried to be mercedes on day one and while that model worked well in the early 1900's it doesn't play in the modern world of 1%'ers.
Damaged the brand? WTF? How? He is the only one that seems to ship when he says he will. His products work. He doesn't do pre-order and I will send to you whenever crap. He doesn't badmouth and call his customers names. As he gets better at manufacturing, he adjusts his price so more people can buy. He is upgrading his products, while most have not even shipped anything yet. He is helpful in posts to customers and the community. And again, he ACTUALLY SHIPS PRODUCTS.
Buyer, actually, he is making a great name for his company. He is the only one in this community I would probably buy a product from in fact.
I bought the very first iphone--paid out the ass for it. I KNEW it would be cheaper, and probably not long after I bought it. But I wanted it NOW. It's the way things work bud...get over it.