I'm just gonna pitch in my opinion. It probably isn't needed.
I have a Ric copy and it's pretty much on par with a mex fender in terms of build so the prices new are high but not a million miles off.
Before this I had a VM Jazz which every man and his dog where/are raving about and I just couldn't get the sound I wanted. That being said I'm not a Ric hunter, I can't say mine sounds exactly like one but I don't really need/want it to. It was a combination if looks and sound. The jazz cost me £300 and I out £100 on top 4 years later to get my Ric copy. It's worth £400 deffo.
That being said, people who are exclusively looking for a Ric sound sometimes miss that loads of players have managed to mirror their Ric tone on Fenders.
We don't need the facts of Ric company ethics here. We know why they can charge what they do and we know why they don't need to change any of it.
As stated above the model of fender selling licenced budget models is a win win situation and I genuinely believe you couldn't sound out a MIA fender vs a CV/ VM squier in a live band mix so if Ric did ever cut some corners and introduce cheaper a models EVERYONE wanting that sound or look would have one!