The honest answer is because knife buying, at this level especially, is emotion driven. The people here (myself included) rarely buy the cheapest knife that will cut or slice for a given use. We look at knives from a want point of view rather than a need point of view. As such, the logic while applicable for a given knife may or may not be applied for another. It's because people like Brand A or dislike where Brand B was made, or dislike the person running Brand C, etc. when it's the one you like, a lot of the logic is altered to justify spending a (relatively) large amount on a (relatively) luxury item.
When you move from the hobby/luxury market and into the mandatory/need type market the logic all changes. Very few people get upset when their prescription goes generic a little early and arguably breaks patent laws, especially when their copay drops from $100 a month to $10. On things we don't want but know we need, the logic used against the certain unfavorable knife brands is dropped and reversed to justify spending as little as possible. It's all relative to how you view the purchase. If you want to justify spending as little as possible, you find excuses why the cheaper one is good enough and you spent the right amount. When you want to justify spending $400+ when a $15 alternative is available you will do all you can to discredit the value of the $15 and justify your expensive purchase. It's just human nature. I'd guess if the SRM knives were $200-$500 and stamped under an American name people wouldn't have a problem. It's the fact they are so drastically different in price and similar to those much more expensive knives that people feel the need to justify (i.e. Trash the competition) their purchase.
Edit: Don't get me wrong, I'm not above the things I listed above. I purchase luxury/want type items off a bit of logic and a bit of emotion. I certainly justify what I find to be a good purchase regardless of if that's an inexpensive or very expensive item. But that's hobbies for you.
When you move from the hobby/luxury market and into the mandatory/need type market the logic all changes. Very few people get upset when their prescription goes generic a little early and arguably breaks patent laws, especially when their copay drops from $100 a month to $10. On things we don't want but know we need, the logic used against the certain unfavorable knife brands is dropped and reversed to justify spending as little as possible. It's all relative to how you view the purchase. If you want to justify spending as little as possible, you find excuses why the cheaper one is good enough and you spent the right amount. When you want to justify spending $400+ when a $15 alternative is available you will do all you can to discredit the value of the $15 and justify your expensive purchase. It's just human nature. I'd guess if the SRM knives were $200-$500 and stamped under an American name people wouldn't have a problem. It's the fact they are so drastically different in price and similar to those much more expensive knives that people feel the need to justify (i.e. Trash the competition) their purchase.
Edit: Don't get me wrong, I'm not above the things I listed above. I purchase luxury/want type items off a bit of logic and a bit of emotion. I certainly justify what I find to be a good purchase regardless of if that's an inexpensive or very expensive item. But that's hobbies for you.
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