Phil, Squid-in-Training wrote:
Now, flashback to two weeks ago. A customer's crash-replacement
Made-in-Italy Bianchi Pinella frame ($1800 retail) comes in for me to
build up, and although there's no problems on painted areas, there's
virtually no attention to detail when it comes to the bottom bracket or
headset! There's slag strewn everywhere inside the BB (even bits I can
break off with my fingernail), there's bubbling on the opposing side of
the welds, it's totally unfinished with paint all up in the threads, and
the headtube looks plain discolored and ugly.
Though this is an extreme case,the principle of it is normal.Example: I have
a 500 Euro italian Espresso machine here that'salways leaking, whilst a
cheap german machine I have too is neatly finished. I prefer the italian
one, though, because it has a "soul". It was made "con amore".

Just open the hood of an Italian car and the one of a German car and
compare. This is a cultural thing.

Greets, Derk