Nice article!
Hell, there's a knockoff company ad on YouTube right now, advertising Chinese Gibbies at stupid low prices.
It's scary how good the knockoffs are getting. But, for every one that is decent in terms of quality, I'll bet there are fifty with serious issues. But, for someone who is maybe new to guitar, they spend their money, thinking they got the real deal for a steal. Then reality hits them when they see inferior workmanship and crappy electronics.
I read recently on the Epiphone website that some Epiphone knockoffs were using particle board for the carved top.