Very good point and one which has bugged me for years and continues to do so. The more I read and observe, the more things are not what they seem

It seems especially clear in the US. For example if you want a soft drink you seem to have choice, but is the option of Pepsi Cola or Coca Cola really choice or just a duopoly to give that illusion.

As Lenin said, the best way to control the opposition is to be the opposition.

I have always been cautious as a consumer not to give more power to these huge corporations then I absolutely have to.

Yet another reason, apart from cost, to support Chinese entrepreneurs.