The Gen price doesn't really come into it for me really, I look for a watch that appeals to me in looks and wear-ability, my nature is addictive so like most of us I have a few watches in the box, my only rule is that any purchase must be affordable from disposable income that I have (and the wife doesn't see it come in the post!)
I love this hobby of ours, I get a great kick out of it and to be honest If I'm asked about a watch I'm wearing I offer the details and the 'is it gen' question hasn't come up yet. Most people do not have the faintest idea what make of watch your wearing or how much what you have on your wrist costs if it were Genuine imo
I think I remember the post your talking about from a while ago, tbh the guy seemed like a [censored] who tried to belittle someone else by passing his reps as Gens, the guy's a loser!
Rep's these days are pretty bloody good in their own right, Qc issues etc are much better than they were 15 yrs ago when I bought them and hey they tell the time pretty well too