I agree Joe. I also think that design or form isn't something that magically
lands on our shoulders. All we are is a sum of all our experiences and
perceptions. (and musings (and genetics)) Therefore everything we create
owes, in part, its origin to all we have seen.
I was watching a movie once and the bloke quoted the bible and said "There
is nothing neww under the sun" or something similar.
However, about the bloke in the vacuum; If he is able to produce quality,
saleable work resembling the famous work of another (who would need to be in
another world) Then it would follow that others not in the hobby would be
even less likely to have seen the original therefore his earning potential
would not be reduced.
Mick