never looked like a joke to me, just poor decision making, I guess if their market accepts that they'll keep making them that way though
If manufacturer making progress in product, - I take him seriously. If opposite, - this to me means two things: 1) April Fools joke or 2) poor decision as you mentioned, and bad reputation for brand.
Finevu with their one of the most successful ( and my favourite one ) models CR500HD was top brand names to me for a long time, I truly respected them "back then". After such a "joke" ( bad decision ) wiht copy of Livue, and not just a copy of high-spec product, but taking low-end spec ODM, - after that I am very disappointed in Finevu marketing team, or who-ever is doing those decisions.
It's the same like Rolls-Royce would go from their "Phantom" to start producing Copies of Indian
Tata Nano 