While you could be right, I suspect that it is because a product patent has run out. I too have read that Lee and Dillon trade patents to avoid royalty payments. Lee gets the rotating shell plate system for progressives and Dillon gets the powder through and powder drop type system. Not sure how Hornady plays into it, but the powder through die has a patent that must have expired years ago. I doubt however that the linkage on presses is anything that Lee borrowed because it works completely different - it doesn't have any cam over operation which I personally belive is the absolute correct way. In my humble opinion, this invites incorrect die settings and gains nothing. Someone at Lee once told me that it actually takes extra machining (extra cost) to avoid it and one they are willing to do.
