[Hammerhead]

Good point, and excellent question. I asked myself that, too.

IMO, the best way to tell if it's a new design from the ground up, or just cosmetics on an existing architecture, is to see if there are any other lighters out there that look similar or have a nearly identical mechanism, shape, size and functionality.

However, who designs a product, and specifies tolerances, materials, finishes, and ergonomics can make a HUGE impact on any product. For instance, I'll take an IBM ThinkPad over any other laptop out there. Why? Design, construction, materials and build quality. Did IBM ever, in their entire history, manufacture their own? Nope. Their laptops have always been outsourced to many different manufactuers. But what makes a ThinkPad a ThinkPad are the guys at the Watson Research Facility that engineer it.

I'm definitely curious to learn more about the particulars. Who manufactures it. What materials are used, and how are they different than what's out there. And so on.

If any of you guys hear anything, let us know!