Its because they're corksniffers. They believe/claim they can tell the quality of the wine just by sniffing the cork. In this case, they believe they can tell the quality of a particular gear from its country of origin.
I would still rely on my personal evaluation system to avoid lemons: Research before buying (brand, specs, etc.), actual examination, inspection, and testing, and discipline to walk away form the purchase when it has failed the exam. I can't let a label that says MIC stop me from enjoying something that could be good or great.
Wrong. There's a difference between MADE IN CHINA and CLASS A CHINA PRODUCT (knock offs); one is original but China-made, one is a fake.
Quite frankly if we all had plenty of money to spare i don't think anybody would choose a China product over anything. Tell me I'm wrong?
But since the problem of money is there, we compromise by buying MIC, and convince ourselves that the sound difference isn't enough to merit buying the more expensive MIA/MIJ/whatever else.
You're wrong.
I enjoy the disposable nature of cheap gear. Even if I could afford it, like laptops, I can afford changing them every year because I only buy the rebranded MIC generics (MSI/NEO) this i7 laptop I use now is half the price of a vaio with comparable specs. Now I can't live with myself having purchased a vaio (even if I could afford it), when my only intent is to use it through its warranty. Technology today is tomorrow's junk, the money I can spare is still not money I would like to waste.
My MIC Ibby is my "workhorse" guitar aside from it being more comfortable than my MIA Strat, I can beat on it 'til its demise without worry of losing too much investment... its durability has become a bonus. The strat is just there for the "wow MIA, ang pogi mo" sake of it. Although, admittedly the strat sounds better on any day, I rarely use it to preserve it. I recently bought an Ifung for our caretaker's daughter (debut gift yun walang malisya hahaha) in the province for 2+k, and it was a good knock off until you opened it, the display was substandard, but it was a sosyal gift for a small price. Quality takes a backseat in these cases. Life is happier and corksniffers are missing out on this.
Corksniffers are corksniffers, thats it. In a blind test on different days of a guitar or amp of the same brand and unit, I bet they wouldn't be able to tell if its MIC or MIA. Unless, probably when its A/B'd side by side but then again.