Your exactly right. The cottage industry is incredibly important to new innovation. I believe we are not only competing against the 'big' manufacturers (really pretty small when compared to other markets, electronics for instance), but we also compete directly with the ULAs, Henry Shires, etc. When Jet Boil hit the market (I consider them cottage when they first entered the outdoor market) you should have seen the buzz it created at the Cascade Designs booth at the Outdoor Retail Show. We pay strict attention to the cottage industry.

For me personally, I love it! I like to see people, who aren't statisfied with the current product selection, go out on there own truly believing they can do better (and some definitely do). This type of competition is what keeps things fresh and expands what folks believe is possible. For instance, I really believe the two best lightweight packs on the market are ULA and Granite Gear. I think Osprey, Gregory, Arcteryx, Marmot, etc. are putting out great stuff, but I don't think they compare, when weight is the issue, to ULA or Granite Gear. Granite Gear, compared to the big boys, are relatively small (not as small, definitely, as ULA). This is my own personal opinion based on experience with each one of these pack manufacturers. There are others out there that I haven't tried which may very well compare to ULA or Granite Gear. They are what make this industry so addicting <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.