It does look like a knock off.  However, do keep in mind MSR's incredible customer service (in my experience anyway.)  I have had several pieces of equipment that developed problems long after the warranty ran out or because of something boneheaded that I did and in every case MSR simply replaced the item no questions asked.

I haven't tried a propane adapter, though I do see there is such an animal available.
Propane Adapter:
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I do have one of these adapters though, which allows me to use use a canister stove like a remote canister stove with cheaper butane cartridges.

Butane Adapter:
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Cheaper Butane:
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I also have one of these adapters for my remote canister stoves to use the cheaper butane:
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Read this blog post for SAFETY information about the butane cartidges and adapters and the proper way to orient the cartidge:
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If you are using a liquid/multifuel stove with a fuel vaporization tube(generator) you shouldn't have an issue once the stove is warm, but with these cheap canister stoves there is no generator.

I guess it depends on how you feel about throwing stuff away.  Me, I'd rather make less land fill than more.

I think MSR stands behind their products because they can afford to - for the most part they last, at least the ones that I've been using.  My pocket rocket, for instance, is better than 10 years old and still going strong. I don't see replacing it anytime in the foreseeable future.  Now that might be true for the knock offs as well.  I'm just sayin'.

From what I could gather online, it "appears" that those knock-off stoves and the MSR brand come from basically the same factories?

IF that is true, then the big mark-up MSR puts on them helps explain why they can afford to give the great service they give.

I've never used canister stoves, and when I posted this, I didn't know that there are two different valve configurations for the different fuel blends.

arnesr clued me into that with his post about the adapter(s) you'd need if you wanted to be able to use the cheaper propane cylinders I was interested in.

I also see they make a couple of different canister bases that give stability to your set-up which if you ever had a stove tip while cooking, you know is something you want.

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I also found mention the use of homemade heat shields if you used your canister stove for prolonged simmering because of potential overheating/fire issues at the connection point.
I hardly ever use my Coleman Multi-fuel at full temp, I prefer a low simmer and work the cooking/boiling water time around my camp chores/ set-up/ breaking camp.

Yup, I don't want to add to the garbage in the environment with empty fuel canisters, but being steel/alloy, I'm sure if you want you could find a re-cycle center that would take them.

Even Coleman fuel comes in gallon metal cans/ quart plastic bottles. How many of them wind -up abandoned in the woods or are put in plastic trash bags and wind up in landfills unknowingly?

A small wood burning stove using dead wood has it's critics too, more air pollution and all that.

I'll probably get a burner assembly/ adapter and either buy or McGyver a base for a 1 lb propane cylinder.
I'll do a home test and see how I like it compared to my old friend the Multi-fuel.
I'll weigh both set-ups and decide from there?

Thanks for info and comments.