You too are correct that TM can be innovators in that everyone else is copying them, but that innovation is, imo, at least partly driven by competition. It could be argued that it was the rise of the Chinese clones which pushed TM to release the NGRS system. Back when I started playing 21 years ago your choice for AEGs was TM, Classic Army if you wanted to flex on the poors or occasionally ICS. Also you were looking at £30 per magazine. New players can get all the essentials for way less than it cost me
Another reason I like having a larger choice of makes is that it opens up the game to a wider market giving us a louder voice if some politician wants to make a name for themselves by wanting to expand on the VCRA