Well, in my eyes that's a bad start. I would not buy from people stealing other people's intellectual property as shameless as the 360 people did. And there are way enough shortcuts on that interpretation of a Brompton and it is based on an early 90ies design that got frankensteined to the worse. Your buy makes your statement even stranger:
Well, you did not buy one but a cheap (in multiple ways) copy. So you already proved that the development ist not of value to you as you are neither willing to pay for it nor to even pay for the development that has already happened - you bought a pirated copy instead from people that did not invest a single penny in development.
Regarding your "40 years no development" statement I'd recommend looking again. No one would hoenstly say a Mk1 from 1980 would be even close to a today's Brompton - the current raw shape started with the MK2 in 1987, that's 33 years. A Mk2 and an actual Brompton have exactly two parts in common: The rear hinge and the plastic bit on the stem that holds the stem in folded state. Every other bit and part has changed, most of them more than once. If you want change go and buy a Dahon - they change their parts and models so frequently that they are not able to provide spare parts or at least reliable data about their current lineup...
Me buying a clone seems to hit a raw nerve of you. You are incorrect to state 360 is stealing Brom intellectual property. There are articles you can check it out their licence are over. So it is legitimate. There are already a few clones, Pike Elements and two others which is less popular.
I applaud Brom retain the basic config besides the minor tweaking which I‘m not blinded. I admit it’s the best fold. Why reinvent the wheel when its aren’t broke. That is one reason I bought the 360 albeit a clone. And it is uniquely chromed which Brom don't have. Besides its 1/3 the price and all I want is some fun riding. I can have the cake and eat it. SpaceX has ventured into materials that re-entry will not subject to falling tiles. Selle Anatomica took a step further over Brooks with their leather saddle in different thickness and lighter that don’t require 500 or 1000 miles to break in. That is innovation. Of course not everyone can attest to Selle and some has gone back to Brooks. On the same token, some would hv gone back to Brom after trying out the bike clone. To each his own.
You can brag all you want carrying the brom over 100 stairs twice a day. Not everyone is as musular as you. What am saying brom shld attempt to innovate the material portion, not to change config like Dahon or Tern. Some has called for carbon even. But personally I think that is a tough call when folding is involved.
Anyway, its not my business shld Brom wish to remain status quo for the next 100 yrs. I’m not suggesting them to explore rocket science material. Just kind of making it lighter where u already hv a bunch of people complaining- as far as I know reading fr various articles. Then some will argue u r suppose to ride or atmost push wheel a few feet away, as if they knew their situation. Anyway with brom remain less innovative will keep many hobboyists happy in building up a ti frame, me included potentially.
I got the answer fr you. TQ for that. The main frame wt diff comes up to 600g and that would allow me a cost evaluation. Now u may say it doesn't add up since I'm prepare to part with my cash. I can give you another tonne of reasons. So its unproductive for a protracted argument here as it was already a very old thread, besides I know my direction now.
