Was 753 certification a real test of skill, or just a way for Raleigh to give the tubeset more prestige while controlling its availability? Did they charge money for the certification test?

The Motobecane story also doesn't make sense to me...if they hadn't passed the certification, than why did they have the tubing to make the frames? Wouldn't Reynolds wait until they passed to fill their order?

Could it have simply been a money and production issue? Wasn't 753 majorly expensive and difficult to work with?