Copying an existing design and then changing it to try to make it look like you didn't might be pretty close to the worst design methodology you could come up with.
Some are dangerously so. DWR doesn't carry a knockoff, however there are a fair number of Isamu Noguchi coffee table knockoffs out there, with dealers selling them for only $200 less. Saving $200 becomes irrelevant when you discover that the knockoff isn't counterweighted by design, and you hear of a story of someone who had to clean up a huge mess of plate glass.
-----
DWR's saving grace will probably be their absurdly helpful and friendly staff. The "ready-to-ship" is still valuable as well, as there's plenty of manufacturers out there where the realistic lead-time for delivery is 16 weeks, and still far too many that only deal with interior designers.
I'm a male. If I go into a regular (non-chain, family owned) furniture store I'm promptly ignored by ALL the staff members because there isn't a gal on my arm. On one occasion I tried to order a different size of a giclee than the one on display (because I couldn't see it working on something other than a 14 - 18 foot high wall). No one could be bothered to help me.
Contrast that to DWR where when I went shopping for a lounge chair I could feel confident about for 50 years, they had no problem with me sitting in very high-end chairs for hours on end. When I mentioned I was looking for a credenza they had no issue helping me find what I was looking for... even though they didn't carry it. Yes, they gladly helped me find something to buy that they didn't carry.
By the by though, it is true that American culture does tend to look more towards "now" than the long tail and cheaper is better. In some cases it's hard to argue -- I'd like Florence Knoll's four-position credenza, but there are cars that you can buy for that much money. Honestly I still feel a bit dirty with what I paid for my Eames lounge.
I wouldn't feel dirty about it. It's a wonderful and functional piece that costs less than a nice watch.