You are correct. I'd risk it if I didn't have one already. I've bought several (normal aka soprano) new Chinese flutes for $80 or so and they're absolutely fine

You are correct. I'd risk it if I didn't have one already. I've bought several (normal aka soprano) new Chinese flutes for $80 or so and they're absolutely fine. That price is way less than it costs to get my old student model Gemeindhardt to be repadded. Plus PayPal and eBay never ever side with the seller if you decide to return :O