The question of liking something is indisputably subjective, but I stand by my analogy.

The issue of legality is not germane, in my opinion. What I was getting at was the attempt to achieve an end by means of a process that is expeditious--and usually cheaper--than by the process of accretive knowledge or improvement. Quartz watches ascended because the Japanese could produce them cheaply and the public, having little demand for their watches other than accuracy, substituted them for more expensive (and less functional) mechanical watches. That quartz watches tell time better than their mechanical brethren is kind of a cruel paradox for us vintage watch afficianados: for me, the least valued attribute of my old Heuers is their accuracy. Since they are watches, I know this is ludicrous, but it is the cases, dials, the quirky modular calibers 11-15, the dial coloration, and the imperfections of a mechanical watchmaking process that dates back to the guild era that are interesting to me.