Hi John, just wondering, have you seen yet the Chinese instruments that are not CSOs at all, and have decent build quality? I've seen more than a few now that were absolutely worth repairing. I also just recently saw a known brand name student model, it had a pretty good design, intonation, tone, but judging from the keys and pads, I would think it was a CSO!
What I am referring to are the brands such as:
Cecelio
Jinbao
Simba
Lazarro
Jolly Sun
No Names
They are flooding the US market from EBay. They cost $99 complete with "Flying Goose" reeds, a pair of white gloves, and the worst mouthpiece imaginable. They are advertised as "Music Teacher Approved", "Band Director Approved", and "Perfect For School Music Programs".
I know that some better quality instruments are starting to come from China. These aren't in that category by a long shot. They do make colorful lamps though---especially the ones made in green, yellow, blue, and red plastic.