[Willie Krash]

Synders, Berts, Brattons and Mike's really make an effort to deliver a good product to the hobby. There are many smaller suppliers out there that do a wonderful job...A&L was mentioned.
Really these folk aren't huge businesses I would guess they don't fly around the world with engineers. They do this 'cause the big boys won't is my take. We have to accept some compromises and to that end we are to some degree part of the issue. You can price yourself out of business, as Pogo said...We have met the enemy and he is us.

Thru' the years I have had many hobbies. One was collecting wind-up phonographs. If not reproductions stuff that was at best so-so the parts suppliers were supplying original stuff. The well is drying up.
Back those suppliers the best you can for w/o them for many it might be eBay, which has a place too.