>>Did seeing one of those again touch a nerve??<<

I have never owned one.  I have seen the pain they inflict.  The most successful use for a Sea Turd is to swap a nicely detailed kit for a couple of dinners at your local TGIFridays.  They make excellent bar decorations. 

Three seaplane-related things set me off in that manner. 
(1) The Sea Turd.
(2) The Herr Aqua-Sub
(3) Those horrid blow-molded plastic floats that have a G and a B in the tradename.
I won a set of those in a fun-fly.  A hobby-shop owner had donated them. He was (and still is) a friend.  I hurt his feelings when I hinted that second place was TWO sets of the wretched things. 

dishonorable mention: Plywood float kits that are too large and too heavy and cause otherwise excellent airplanes to fly poorly.  Champaign, Il seems to be a frequent source. 

All are substandard products that underperform and drive otherwise enthusiastic participants away from the hobby.   <br type="_moz"/>