I'm a vegetarian who has a 'cheat' but it's based on ethics, not a way of getting something I want.

If a significant item of meat will go to waste due to something out of someone's control, then I might eat the meat. The ethical evaluation I'd do is to ask whether the benefit of showing that I do not want to contribute to meat being made for me is outweighed by the waste of simply throwing it away.

A similar reasoning would apply to, say, turning up at a dinner and the host had made a mistake and has no useful alternatives. They'll be embarrassed enough already, they'll be told I'm vegetarian but that I'll happy to eat the meat on that occasion. I'm not there to make it worse for them. But if there's plenty of veg so it's not a problem, I'll just have the veg. On the other hand if the host didn't care and had made meat knowing I don't (want to) eat meat, then I'd decline to eat. I can go a few days without food if I have to.

Also I'm tolerant of preparation mistakes, like meat arriving in a takeaway dish where it would be more trouble than it's worth to replace it (but I'd still seek a refund).

All the above together happened about 3 times in the last 10 years I think. I like doing it when it happens, because it reminds me and others that my vegetarianism is an active choice for me, that I make without feeling compelled to.

That said, I'm really not used to eating meat any more, and like my sibling commenter, if a fake meat seems realistic it makes me worry that I've been served the real stuff by mistake. I'd probably finish it but I'd really want to know.

I think I consider being vegatarian instead of vegan a cheat. Cheese and eggs are just too good. But alternatives are getting better these days, and I tend to eat vegan pizzas now.

I am, and the cheats I allow myself are for convenience, for example when I go out or invited somewhere. I am not going to be that guy and be picky, i'll just eat whatever is there.

Been a vegetarian for ~25 years, I don't cheat as my 'beliefs' (or whatever you want to call it) out-way my desire to eat bacon.

For me, at a certain point it became psychological and would be really hard for me to cheat.

i.e. I've tried those better-burger (or derivatives) and mentally I have to keep reminding myself it's not meat as it's a small step in throwing up. I pretty much don't order them any more). In the early days, the smell of bacon was the most tempting, but now it also turns my stomach and I have to leave the room. I can't imagine even trying those fake-meat prawns.