I received an update from A-B emblem today:
"...we are still waiting to for a definitive answer from NASA - they don’t move fast.
Once we understand what has happened here, we will decide if we want to offer two versions and I agree there will be some folks willing to pay more for the “real” deal. There actually should be no visible difference between the two.
As far as making you a small run, that would get really expensive and not the route we should take. A sample order of 3 is $175 so basically $25 each [actually $60 each- math error!] and the way our embroidery machines layout the minimum for this would be at least a couple of hundred."
If I was buying one, I'd probably pony up the $60. Or close to it anyway. $25 certainly would be fine for one piece. But I don't have six grand kicking around to buy 100 meatballs, assuming the worst-case scenario.
I have not committed to anything with them but I did ask what the minimum quantity and unit price would end up being. There SHOUDN'T be any set up charge to speak of (well, maybe to change spools, but art etc. are certainly done) and if they did a normal minimum size run, I would think the unit price would be less than $60 each...
So, as I see it, there are three possible scenarios coming out of this:
A-B will offer a USA version you can buy from them,
I will have a limited quantity run done to offer here, or
I will get my few pieces piggy-backed on the next NASA order and nothing will change in the A-B emblem world.
Time will tell... but I'm hoping they will take this as a wake-up call and not only sort out their off-shore supplier base, but also realize the value to their customers by offering the patches we go to them for, rather than picking them up from [random seller] on eBay.