Great topic!

I try in all honesty to research before I buy! I look at things and play in my mind - What If I buy this and it breaks then what - that is a what if scenerio. What if -
Well - I have been burned a few times and hate things that require you to buy one specific item just because. AND I do understand why prodcuts are made to use only one suppliers parts - as I worked for a consumer products company for many yrs.

So I do look for things that are universal. If a muzzle loader company wants to do that - market a muzzle loader that can only use their bullets AND it may be the best thing since sliced bread - I will not purchase but do with the next best. And trust me if it is popular someone else will do the same thing - that is today's marketing in a nut shell.
That is why I use a PC and not a MAC - I got burned by Apple company long ago and never again!

Dave....JW

JW,i also research everything on the internet before buying.

1874sharpsshooter ,

People are the problem with this as well. People are only going to read and understand what they want to. Just take all the testing i have done with the 1/20 twist. 90% of it was with Barnes and Hornady bullets. Only 10% of the testing was Lehigh. But people still think the only bullet that will work in a 1/20 is a Lehigh. Granted most understand but a few just dont and they wont. In the big picture though it doesnt matter your right. Send a pack of bullets with the ML that works and be done with it. Scary but true.

Grouse:If there's one thing I've found to be true it is: People believe what they want to believe

Ah, a subject near & dear to my heart.
Simply: proprietary systems=increased profits.

I've seen this wave growing in the construction industry for years; everything is a system. Problem is, when the miracle system of today is replaced w/ "gen 2" and/or fails, your existing system is no longer supported and must be replaced- sometimes at great expense.
Clearly, this is true for many things today; it is the new business paradigm.
A fer' instance; I like vintage motorcycles. 3 or 4 years ago I came across a bike I'd been searching for online somewhere in Georgia. Price was a bit high but since the history was known it was worth the stretch.
Bottom line, seller would not sell it to me, non-local, because I would provide no residual income from parts sales & service in the months/years to come. This from a small shop.
My theory here is that with the current world population, read customer base, businesses truly do not need to cater to their clientele at all-revenue is done on volume. Ergo, the propietary system: why sell a ( fill in the blank ) only when you can sell every single component necessary for its use throughout it's planned limited life span?
Sad.