In addition to keeping the ABS chemical composition a trade secret they also replace their molds frequently. This keeps the tolerances high and the quality of t

In addition to keeping the ABS chemical composition a trade secret they also replace their molds frequently. This keeps the tolerances high and the quality of the bricks consistent. But it’s costly. If you’re a competitor you’d probably use your molds 2x-3x longer to save money. In the short term you can pass the savings to consumers as a cheaper alternative. But since QC isn’t high you get the reputation as not being as good as LEGO.