Hi David,

About:   "Just like Chinese manufacturing, they can do it as well as
they choose
to.  There's a much wider range of quality coming from China,  but they
both (as countries) can produce best-in-the-world
quality. "

I can confirm this point, to perhaps help modulate the often predominant
bashing of Chinese products.

A few weeks ago I met with an US and offshore electronics
contract manufacturer -- no lightweight, he has been doing it for over 20
years and has lines both here and in Vietnam.  His comment about Chinese
manufacturing:  they can build it for any price you want.  Want an Android
mobile for under $100, no problem.  Want a better one for $150, no problem.
 Want even higher quality, no problem.  They have a sliding scale of
quality and price, you can get as high a quality as you would like.

And so.... probably half of the readers guessed the next question.  Why is
it that we have this perception in the US that China only produces low
quality items like car parts and tools [adding some Vanagon content here]?
 Well, because in Harbor Freight, Toys R US,  and other outlets that is all
we see.  So we better ask this question of our own US corporations /
importers.   The obvious corollary is that we in the US can be competitive
in exactly the same way.

Roland