Originally Posted by
ThermionicScott
I wouldn't be surprised if "Dimension", "SunRace", "SunRun", or some of these other makers had contracts to make Shimano's down-market cassettes and freewheels, and Shimano is slowly handing over the market to them. I have absolutely no evidence to support that theory, but they are definitely stepping up to fill the void now that Shimano has stopped making HG50 cassettes in 7-speed. Too bad they're not making more of the tight "road" configurations, though...
Could be, but I'd guess not--Shimano has a ton of manufacturing capacity even at the low end. Interestingly, they openly admit which chains they have made by KMC, which is pretty much their very lowest end, like HG-40.
I think 3rd party manufacturers have just gotten much at either copying or designing shift features. This even includes stuff like FSA cranks--they now shift very well, but 5 years ago they worked OK, but distinctly less well than Shimano.