If you can get someone experienced to handle logistics, it isn't that bad. I know a few companies that routinely turn to grey market parts when st hits the fan

If you can get someone experienced to handle logistics, it isn't that bad. I know a few companies that routinely turn to grey market parts when st hits the fan for their mass manufactured product supply chains. In my experience, Marvell is one of the worst to work with but their fabricators make a lot of grey market copies of Marvel's chips during off hours. If you can find a reliable source (fabricator who makes chips for Marvell during the day and grey market copies during the graveyard shift), it will usually be pretty reliable.