this only works in an ecosystem where the 'race to the bottom' is futile, because you are already at the bottom. Hence why it works in China, no one is going t

this only works in an ecosystem where the 'race to the bottom' is futile, because you are already at the bottom. Hence why it works in China, no one is going to take your idea and produce it cheaper because everyone is already functioning in the most efficient manufacturing space possible. In the western world, this is unfortunately not the case. Getting something produced is very expensive because our labor, machine, and real estate costs. Outsourcing makes it cheaper, once you have that pipeline in place. So if I innovate here without protection but pay the expensive price to have produced here, there is a significant advantage for person #2 with the China factory pipeline in place to steal my invention and significantly undercut my costs. I do like his idea and wish our 'prototype' maker economy was more efficient in the US, but China has paid a high environmental toll to be in that place and it is a price we are not willing to pay here in the U.S.