Does this make the practice any better?

Why don’t you give 1$ to everyone, they would be happy. Not doing it is not that nice.

Same logic after reading and accepting the comments above.

No. But I didn't think it was that bad in the first place. They offer a product for a price. As a customer, I'm free to take it or leave it based on merits. I'm not familiar with this model, but at least one thing must be true.

1. A competitor offers an alternative product at a better price. 2. Sennheiser produces these more efficiently than anyone. 3. All alternatives have similar margins. 4. No other manufacturer has a similar product.

Whatever the case may be, it will inform the rational comparison shopping process. This is a discretionary item. There's probably some economics name for this, but it's not insulin. Sennheiser isn't coercing anyone.

Note that the customer headphones Sennheiser brand was sold to Sonova in 2021. Sennheiser company only makes professional equipment.

How do I know which is which?

If it would be easy to find out who actually makes the stuff no one would buy the brand.

Seriously, EU should make some legislation against this kind of shady shit. It's confusing the consumer. If you don't want to make headphones anymore stop making them. Or license the "technology" but make them say "Sonova headphones with Sennheiser technology"