Hi John,
I agree, but a well engineered laser-cut kit can be as good or better than original MK kits (I have a pattern kit that is mostly laser-cut and it is quite impressive - of course it still came from Japan). The die-cutting in MK kits has always been excellent, because they don't over-use the dies and produce 'die-smashing'. The hand sawn parts are exquisite. I hope MK continues to produce kits. As an aside, all of the Oxai pre-built pattern ships start out as laser-cut kits. Oxai just refuses to sell them in kit form [&o].
-Will