This sounds very much like "records are purer than digital", which to my knowledge has been shown to be nonsense. I get that's not a perfect analogy but: If al

This sounds very much like "records are purer than digital", which to my knowledge has been shown to be nonsense. I get that's not a perfect analogy but: If all lenses are identical, why should I buy your product: I could be wrong but last time I checked there's a hell of a lot more to a camera than just the lens. There's a bunch mechanics: the lens housing, the sensor, etc. But also simple device ergonomics, etc which I suspect (as a non-photographer) are more important in reality. The distortion due to non-cleanness or what have you: as long as I have been aware of photographers as a profession (vs. hey I take pictures from time to time) I have been aware of physical filters, and straight up vaseline on the lens. Is that not a thing anymore? All the pictures will look the same: I mean yes, but that is essentially true - what distinguishes "I take pictures" from "I get paid for my pictures" is timing, composition, positioning, etc. People would not pay hundreds-thousands for a wedding photographer if they could borrow/rent a good camera and have a friend be the photographer. It sounds very much like if a painter were to argue mass produced oil paints were undermining oil paints by removing the variation in paint vs artisanally produced hand blended linseed+random toxic chemical paints.