Sorry this thread has gone off the rails from your original post, but it does bring up a question I've been wondering about for a long time. Is it possible to build a Defender completely from the ground up with new OEM and aftermarket parts? If you replace the frame, put in a new drivetrain, replace all the body panels, bulkhead, doors, and everything else. when does it stop being original and become a replica? My guess is, if you have a donor vehicle (and it's associated title and VIN) then you can call it a Land Rover, but if you're starting from scratch then it's not technically. Still, aside from the legality, what's the difference?
I am in no way defending Osprey. Everybody has access to the same parts - new, aftermarket, or whatever. It really comes down to the skill of the person assembling those parts, and due diligence when spending $200k becomes hyper-critical. I don't know what Himalaya, Arkonik, Cool-N-Vintage, The Landrovers, or any of the other high-end builders charge for their trucks, but at that price point I would have very high expectations. All things being equal (and they're not) I would much rather have a quality, restored original with proper provenance.