I dont know, i remember when the fake rolex watch thing kicked off years ago and someone asked the boss at rolex what he thought, he said the sales have gone through the roof as people that can afford (or cant even) now want the real version, two years ago no one knew what a rolex was! Same happens here i bought my first ray in 2002 within a few years i wanted a pre eb. I bought a yamaha virago years ago and got so sick of people asking me if it was a harley davidson i ended up buying one!
Ebmm were one of the very last companies to introduce budget versions, squier,epiphone,warwick rock bass, cheap ibanez and yammys,charvel, charvette etc all predate the olp,sterling range and the sub basses in most cases.