Ok I'm open to being wrong. How about proving me wrong? What parts of my description of Chinese culture are wrong? For one thing it's a pessimistic society hence the photocopy culture (why take a crazy risk for something unknown and original when I can just use someone else's safe and proven ideas?) and lack of open source (why share when I don't immediately benefit while others will for free?).
> The fact is that even "maker" culture in the US where its currently being celebrated (because it makes people money) is made up of a very small percentage of people working in North America
I agree about the small and minority part, people here are mostly about consumption and that needs to change. However, I strongly disagree about the 'because it makes people money' part. You're confusing the West with China. On a whole, people in the maker culture do it for the love and not as a job or lucrative opportunity. Most of the things being made seem unwanted and not polished for the mass market. Have you looked at Make, Instructables, or any of the other maker communities. People share their plans and designs. People do it for fun. They also make stuff as a way of rebelling against set institutions and consumption. (Maybe this is another strike against Chinese culture? Overall they are used to obeying 'emperors', while our culture is used to a near constant state of rebellion against old norms.) Making money for the majority of this idea tribe is mostly an afterthought. This is way different in China.
About the only thing I can think of in China's defense on this issue is that I'm guessing more people and a larger percentage of the population have the ability to make stuff as opposed to people over here which is probably due more to necessity than personal preference. EDIT: One last edit, there is one more thing that I can think of where people in China Make more due to love and pride and not mainly for money: things related to their space program.