The discussion here is [as usual..] based on what's supposedly "best" among instruments. By now, we all should know better so there is no point to comment on this any further.
Scale design is a thing very few fully understand and those who do still have to deliver "the goods" in the end. Just because someone is a well known architect doesn't mean he's building impressive or 'suitable' housing in each and every case.
Case in point:
I once talked to a [well known] designer who explained to me privately all the major facets of a just newly designed model, obviously trying to impress.
When I tried the piano later, my comments were less than complimentary.
This model was eventually discontinued by the maker [wouldn't one know..] as others commented similarly.
One thing that remains always same is that people judge a piano by tone & touch - it's what it's all about. Otherwise it wouldn't even make sense to try them. There's no shortcut to this and all the explanations in the world don't help. For others so-called prestige and imagery is more important. Everybody make your own choice.
Incidentally, I know a few makers who protect themselves with certain 'secrets' in manufacturing only known to them. Which is only logical. By the way, most of the Euros do. [and have always done in world's arguably fiercest high end market]
So, "copying things" is not always as easy as some may suspect.
Coupled with "cost of instrument" at least to me, is where things are actually at.
As is for most of our customers.
Everybody can decide between 'talk' and 'performance'
But the former does not exactly make up for the latter.
Norbert
