ibbz":xe0zwwmj said:
Sure, taiwan and China probably have great technicians and workmen, but they're making stuff 'to order', as the workers get their wage, and large Corps give their designs and orders to be built to specifications by people who don't really care whether the order is from Trek or Specialized or Halfords.
Not entirely. Certainly there's probably not the same emotional connection between welder and product as in a one-man custom shop, but what matters is how well it's put together. The big brands take quality control very seriously (because they don't want shoddy product), so the people making them certainly care on that level -- no factory wants a reputation for making crappy frames. And clearly the nationality of the welder doesn't impact upon the pride they take in their own work.
ibbz":xe0zwwmj said:
There are probably Robots which can build and make stuff as well as any Human.
Stuff yes. Bike frames no. Supermarket BSOs might be robot-welded, anything resembling a proper bike is welded together by a person.