Yes, most stands and caps in LFS are junk. Yes it costs a lot for freight and import duties but as a frequent furniture and home decor importer , there is no reason to pay 800 bucks for a pressedboard stand when you can have a solid mahogany one brought in on container from Shenzhen for a grand or cheaper. The fact is, if we are spending 2k-10k on a system to show off in my livingroom, why would I put it on a imitation pine stand that bubbles and warps? I mean, I don't have bubbly second hand Ikea furniture in my living from from 1985, why would I need a matching stand?
But yes, supporting the local lFS is our duty since most are great and helful and it is a tight knit community in the reefing world. BUUUT geez, they should stock better stands. I can source some if any of you LFS are interested
Sorry for the non-selling/buying related rambling.