A story about unknown club heads. I owned and operated a custom golf club shop in the Boston area from 1985 to 2000. In the 90's I displayed at several local golf shows. On display I had Bob Toski, Harvey Penick, John Letters of Scotland, Golfworks, Golfsmith, KZG, and a few other heads some of which I forget the names of. I did not have anything I personally considered knockoffs, copies, clones, etc. as I did not pursue that market. People would stop, pick up a head, look at it, and the first thing they would ask is what is this a copy of.
We can talk/argue all we want to about clones, knockoffs, copies, custom fitting, etc. but unless John Q Public sees the product advertised on TV, in golf magazines, etc. anything else will still be nothing more than a copy and many will never buy such.
I use to say to other clubmakers when you are selling a head no one knows at least make it an easier sale by using a shaft and grip they may have seen. Ones that you can backup with national advertising materials. Use the name brand heads/shafts as pull through marketing. Easier to sell a So and So head with an Aldila/True Temper/Grafalloy shaft, Golf Pride/Lamkin/Winn grip, etc. than with a shaft and grip no one ever heard of.
My personal equipment is made up of all OEM clubs that have been "reworked" to meet my specifications.