Be it a matter of cost, principle, or just plain being landlocked, the idea of 3D printed vegan eel over the real deal is quite an attractive development. An Israeli company called Steakholder Foods has introduced this very thing — something they claim is the world’s first plant-based, printed eel.
I got into veganism partially thanks to imitation meat, and while I almost never have it now I absolutely prefered the uniquely non-meat flavours they offered before the recent stuff got so close.
I think it’s just culinary more interesting to have different flavours that are more meat-ish alternatives than perfect meat imitations.