The counterfeit issue is why I don't buy reptile supplies off Amazon. Had a bad experience with a dog training collar.
The on/off issue may be getting to a place where I can understand the problem. The instrument read-out may not be recording what is going on, if the t-stat lets things get too hot before turning off...not sure. Anyway, there is theory, and then there is the real world. Theory is only as good as it matches the reality. Perhaps the air space works as a buffer, dissipating dangerous spikes, if in fact, we are not getting the correct information from our equipment. Again, not sure..BF suggested I contact the mfr.
Are our snakes suffering for this?
Makes me want to scrap all the heat mats, and go with overhead CHE's!