"Andre Jute" wrote

The Chinese had a huge headstart in all that knowledge, and having the
machinery; they should have enjoyed all of what is known in economics
as "the advantages of backwardness". If the Chinese were interested in
making good tubes, it would have happened by now. I think we can
assume they're interested in volume well before quantity. No amount of
creepy leftwing excuses can change the outcome: after 20+ years,
Chinese tube quality is *very* patchy.


Which is all beside the point. The Chinese have the know-how, whether they
choose to use it is another matter entirely. If they all come from the same
maker then there is no competitive pressure to improve quality. That's the
way capitalism works, nothing to do with "leftwing excuses".

David.