On the other hand, from a practical point of view, what exactly are we talking about here? Who now has the capability of
producing in any quantity fake chips which could pass for real? "Just a few major manufacturers," I would think -- and it also
appears to me that they are now sufficiently aware of the dangers of producing such chips that they will not do so in the future.

I disagree!!!!!
There are thousands of old mold blanks out there. Literally, THOUSANDS.
Anyone could produce thousands of hot stamped fakes. Literally, ANYONE!
There are also 100's of original manfactures dies, still in existence and they are for sale.