[Carroll DeWeese]

"Would the Cobra have the same following it enjoys today if replica makers had not begun to produce them?"

NO.

Look at the world of computers. IBM failed to go proprietary with the PC and they became the standard for PCs as various hardware and software suppliers entered the market. When IBM then tried to create a proprietary operating system for the PC (OS/2) and microchannel, they failed (although both were probably superior to the competition). Replica makers and an open market create demand and interest.