Ok. I'll bite (or put my foot in it).
I think it depends on what your definition of reproduction is. A reproduction or a re-design (re-engineering)?
A "verbatim" reproduction will produce 100% compatibility. It will also inherit 100% of the deficits, defects and potential problems.
A re-design will work but may also not be 100% compatible.
I think it's important to understand that some of the available replacement boards are not electrically identical (or mostly electrically identical). For example (and I'm not picking on them - just using them as an example) ... Rottendog uses power MOSFETs for solenoid drive instead of BJT (bipolar junction) transistors. The effect is the same but the electrical component is different and may hide some compatibility. Another example is the Rottendog MPU9211 that (presumably) uses an emulator for the Harris CVSD (HC-55536). It may work but isn't the same electrically.
My boards are not "verbatim" reproductions. They are 95%+ electrically identical (use all the same components that the original boards use to implement functionality). They offer improvements from known problems as well as improvements for safety, diagnostics or thermal characteristics (heat reduction). They can also be easily serviced as they are through hole designs. All the boards I build have sockets for ICs.
It is also important to note that any offered "verbatim" reproduction of a power (supply) board is likely not "verbatim". The linear regulator is probably replaced with a switching regulator. Some of the older linear regulators are obsolete and NLA (no longer available). They are also extremely inefficient and generate heat like it's trying to survive the arctic winter.
