Smikes post made me realize most of my gear is at least 10+ years old now.

at R&S. Even better than the real thing but $80. Yeah, $80.

In some of the larger sizes, I think Aliens are totally replaced by Totem Cams, which are now cheaper as well.

Purple Totem approx = red Alien
Yellow Totem approx = grey Alien
Blue Totem approx = yellow Alien

(sizing by memory here; I don't have my Aliens handy for comparison.)

The Totems have greater holding power, heads as small or smaller than the Aliens, are just as flexible, and offer the possibility of placements involving just two cams in desperate situations.

The green Alien is still an important Gunks piece that doesn't seem to me to be duplicated by anyone else. Smaller than that and I think C3's are a better bet.

Wait? The new Fixe Aliens are there now??????

They were going fast. Out of green, apparently. All rg's fault.

I bought a full set of Totem Basic Alien clones. I've used them a couple times; they are great! The workmanship seems topnotch and the action feels good. Today I bought a Fixe blue, and once they produce the black I'll be set.

Next, y'all will be wanted that pro to actually work. Ha! Imagine, the very thought.
Why, back in the day, we knew none of it was any good. Ha! Damnated younguns. Buying all kinds a crap when it shoulda been spent on beer! That's how it oughta be, ya know. What's it gonna come to?

How are the heads attached to the cable on the new ones?

Silver Brazed still? I can't imagine that would ever be a process that lends itself to high volume/cheap manufacturing. Well, at least not where the heads don't pop off. Anyone got a closeup of that cable/head junction?

Its not exactly cheap though at $80 a pop. I'd expect thatt Fixe would go with a process that they could stand behind, since the their reputation is at stake.

Cheap manufacturing and cheap sales price have nothing to do with one another. Maybe they make $79 dollars profit because its a poorly built piece of shit. Maybe they make $1.