Jack:

I read your statement negatively. But now that you've explained yourself, I realize I've erred. Sorry!

No problem!

Tom, glad I put a smile on your face. Read a Captain Beefheart quote last night, "My smile is stuck, I can't go back to your frownland."

Interesting that cars were brought up in this discussion. While the car is the antithesis of our craft(at least I hope it is), the trends in its manufacturing are similar to gear. However, much slower to respond. Remember, Honda and Toyota brought cars, both economical in fuel and price, to compete against the hogs that Detroit was producing. Now that they have gained a stronghold, these 2 companies have increased prices and market big, overpriced, overgadgeted, vehicles to the American consumer. I saw a new Toyota SUV Saturday that was the size of a Suburban. Right now the Hyundai, Kia, Suzuki cars are bringing a lower price point, higher quality to the consumer who has tired of the prices Honda and Toyota are commanding. The debate over quality is a mere distraction. The bigger the company, the greater its inertia. A smaller, more agile competitor will soon emerge to give them fits. And so it goes.....

It is a little sad for those that bought and still use their early packs like the breeze and gust to see what they are making now. It was great to be able to buy a pack that you could use for a thruhike 10 years ago that weighed 12-14 oz. Now their "ultralight" packs weight around 2 lbs, not including the ion that is fairly small. Thankfully there are now more people selling gear from their homes to compensate. Just this year I have bought a Zpack, a poncho from MLD, and a quilt from BMW. The selection of ultralight gear has never been better, just none of it is from Golite anymore.

Any good company starts out with the best intentions and attempting to fulfill their "mission"...

But as time goes on the very same company will have to do what is necessary to sustain itself (TERMINATOR’S SKYNET,MATRIX-ESQUE)

It happens in all fields

i.e. outsourcing labor to increase profit margins (which can and does exploit Asia’s lax manufacturing laws), design products and lines around best selling items, etc

And as people have pointed out UL and SUL are very small groups of fringe fanatics not the mainstream, and arguably people chasing numbers to see "who is the lightest"

I would imagine it to be fairly difficult to sell average Joe & Jane on a High priced UL backpack that resembles a high tech grocery bag for their once a year three day weekend.

Even I myself can’t see the benefit of some UL stuff...
I'm just not THAT delicate and careful I try to be but perhaps I am just too American using and abusing things at my leisure... but I digress

You can’t hold GoLite accountable for pursuing a profit and people shouldn’t have allegiances to companies anyhow

I would imagine it to be fairly difficult to sell average Joe & Jane on a High priced UL backpack that resembles a high tech grocery bag for their once a year three day weekend.

Spot on. That is the main reason why retailers here in Australia , and I suppose over there too, stay away from UL. Too much effort for too little return.
However if you have a very focused and dedicated stuff ( for example Pro Mountain Sports in Seattle...) it can be done.
Not that practical for a bigger non family own/owner operated outfit.
Franco

Ii was personally dissapointed at Golite when I started seeing how kind of cheesey some of their new packs are! Looks like they've desighned them for the new up coming star trek film! The older packs were the shizzz!! Any hoot, If they are going to change their ways and make a products that are supposeddly more desirable to the main stream (bogus.) at least sell one or two light weight models for the thru-hiker, and/ or ultra light weighter's! Who do you think got the company to where it is anyways! The very type of people whom fight the poverty of giant corporations, hikers, and out doorsey people a like, who just want to get out into the woods to escape the ridiculous greed of corporal America. Not a very special product this way Golite! And i personally suspect your success will be short lived in these changing times! Too bad, because Golite WAS Sooooo Unique! Shame on you all $$$$$$$$$$