... Just curious as to how imports [...] will be affected ...
What´s more interesting is how imports/exports are now affected due to the CITES II regulations in force affective Jan 2017 which concerns all musical instruments that contain rosewood (all types).
I been following NAMM on YT and that was one of the core topics omnipresent...
Back On-Topic:
I guess we have to distinguish between Brand-Snobbery and Tone-Snobbery....
I´m personally also more on the practical side of things. If it sounds and feels good to me I don´t give flying %$§& what brand is stamped on there.
I´ve come back as of recently to Ibanez mainly because it feels best to me when playing... I don´t care too much about their actual offerings (Prestige, J-Custom,....), the "golden MIJ years" ('87-2002) are the ones I´m after.
These can be found for little coin (see my latest 3 NGD threads).
I also have an Indo-made that´s not bad at all as well as a Korean Cort (see my "Pimp my Cheapo" thread).
The most expensive guitars I ever bought were an ESP Skulls & Snakes (bought in the ESP Custom shop for 4.800 Deutsch Marks in the early 90s) and a Fender Richie Sambora Signature Strat (HSS Floyd Model) for 3.200 Deutsch Marks.
These are both long gone but I hunted down an RG550Ltd that I had around the same time...get the point?!
I am a Brand Snob to a certain extent in terms of Pickups...but that's only because I´ve the specific tonal characteristics I´m looking for (which are an integral part of 'my tone') in DiMarzio pups...it´s something about the whole EQing and tonal curve and feel...hard to explain.
But like RG and his Super Ds it´s a non-negotiable component.
With all the resources in aftermarket replacement parts and NOS stuff, you can mod almost any cheapo to awesome end-result-specs.