A watch is a clock, a small clock on your wrist, my wrist goes near my mouth so why should i pay rolex to put their clock in my mouth?
Cause at the end of the day, production costs of a gen versus production costs of a rep would be relatively similar. Materials and technology have come to the point where you don't need to pay an excessive amount for a beautifully constructed watch. Yes a gen carries that feeling of "i am awesome i have a 10k watch" but at the end of the day the watch still cost 50 bucks to make only difference is your paying for Rodger Federer to wear a rollie at Wimbledon....
I will buy another Gen when it makes my coffee, mows the lawn and does the dishes. Otherwise its still a wrist watch just like a seiko ..... It tells the time.
That aside a gen is a great "marvel of engineering" but all you are really paying for in essence is the brand, the difference in materials (barring gold) are negligible....
Hmmmm maybe i will buy one of those benjamin button clocks that goes in reverse.................... Was that a Gen?