1) Yes there is, because not everyone can make a fully rigged mesh body (duh) some take off, and literally OWN the SL market.
2) Not when they(body devs) control who gets to participate in the marketing and designing, that's suppression. SL in general is supposed to be about open creating. And technically anything uploaded to SL belongs to SL.
3) See 1), and also the bodies success also relies on content being available. More content people like for the bodies, higher chance they buy said body.
I dont even know what youre talking about with brand materials RL.. RL marketing isnt always comparable to SL marketing.. especially how you're comparing it.
I dont agree with copybotters at all, I dont purchase from them.
I will agree the stolen kit isnt a good idea, but they forced peoples hands. People who made income on fashion, were unable to get the kits, to keep their income. All bad.
SL is very controlled in what becomes popular. People very rarely purchase any default avatar clothing, or lower end mesh body clothing. For instance on the female side.. Maitreya, Belleza, Slink own the market. You dont hear of other brands. On the mens side its Slink, Signature, Belleza.
When they can choose who can develop, it messes up the whole market. For instance if a really good 3d designer cant get a kit, just because they dont have any store proof atm, its a ***** awful deal, and shouldnt be acceptable to control within SL, because again, it effects the market and creative environment that SL should be, as a whole.
This has nothing to do with a secondary designer, so again you're way off. Many VERY talented designers that people enjoy in here, couldnt get the kit, so they have to make unmatched rigs, its a lose/lose.
Only way its a win/win is to have kits out in the open, so anyone can create. SL can literally delete any offbrand versions that popup later.. and also its not like that cant happen now, having a kit available to anyone, changes nothing about copybotting. *edit; Also as I said, setting the kit to 1k, allows the creator to squeeze more profit from future creators.. even more of a win!
We may not agree on this and thats fine, but as a creator, I know the struggle first hand.. although I have got the kits I need, I have watched people better than me unable to get kits on the female side. So I'm sure as a consumer, you don't care too much, but when you are in SL to create (even just for fun and yourself), this stuff matters a lot.