I think this has less to do with a lack of imagination and more to do with the very fast pace they are building things. This is basically similar to what we see done with rapid development here in the US (anyone remember Westbury Village or for that matter anyone been to Vegas recently) developers look for a well known theme that they think will attract customers. Given the very fast pace of building it is just easier, and for risk adverse developers safer, to just make it look like a well known quantity. One bigger problem though with these developments isn't that they are copying other well known places but that many of these are practically empty and have failed to attract residents and businesses. That faux England and Austrian towns are basically devoid of residents with their primary business being weddings. This is part of the rampant speculation in real estate in China and one of the things could cause huge problems.
