100% agree!

Gray market or otherwise has absolutely nothing whatever to do with supporting US jobs, but it IS 100% about price control.

A surprising number of items have wildly inflated prices in the US due to this sort of price control and the lack of understanding by people who don't know the have options. Obviously one of those options is not to buy in the first place, but buying outside the manufacturer preferred channels is another.

Some companies are wonderful to deal with. A few years ago I bought a Panasonic Toughbook from Europe because that particular variant (bigger SSD) wasn't yet available in the US. Asked Panasonic first: yes, of course we will warranty it if needed - it's a Panasonic. Nikon and gray market lenses on the other hand... "See if you can touch your toes - we have a gift for you".

Price manipulation. Scam. Price control. Extortion. Residency Tax.
How descriptive and how misunderstood.
First let me say the only grey market purchaser here with a clear understanding is poster tvhasben. His logic and reasoning is impeccable.
Price manipulation = Manipulation is the act of artificially inflating or deflating the price of a security(*or product) or otherwise influencing the behavior of the market for personal gain. *my addition*
This usually refers to securities and investment products; but has now entered the lingo of everyday products we purchase.
Scam = a dishonest scheme; a fraud.
Extortion = the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
Residency Tax = Tax residence (also known as fiscal residency, residence for tax purposes, or other, similar terms) is an important concept for all tax payers living and working abroad. It determines how you are treated with regard to taxation in a particular country.
The misunderstanding here is that that the 'product', while the same in production (generally), is not the same where sold. The products manufactured and sold in Japan are serviced at the local facilities in Japan. Are they serviced at a facility that is adjacent to or part of the main manufacturing facility? I don't know. Nikon Corporate is in Japan and services their product.
You don't live in Japan. You live somewhere else in the global community--in this case the USA. How do you know about the product? Where can you put your hands on the product to see how it feels and works? Who can you speak with at the manufacturer to discuss any issues? And, should anything require service or repair..to whom do you send it. Clearly none of the replies are...Japan of course!
In order to import the product to 'your shores', you need a people and places to make this happen-- on your shores--not in Japan. When was the last time you set up a business with employees, offices-rented or owned, and distribution warehouses? Assuming you did..was it for free or did it cost you to do so? Let's assume you actually did this in Moline, Illinois. How about you want to sell your product in Japan? You can do it yourself, under your current corporate umbrella or set up a company in Japan to 'do it for you'. Of course this is just a euphemism for another company. It is done this way since the laws of one country are different from another. The result is the same though. Did you do this for free? Nope. It cost. For what? 1st..the same thing it cost you to set up in your own city. The difference is that you are not manufacturing the product in Japan. 2nd...you need to understand the differences in the market and who buys and how they make decisions in Japan..market demographics. You can try and do this in Moline, but the expertise is in Japan..the market to which you want to sell. Is all of this for free? Nope. Extend this to every market area in the world that you would like to sell your products. Oh, I forgot...you are not selling a pill that you take once and it is gone. Or a sponge that you buy and use it till it disintegrates. Or a set of brake pads that need to be changed in 30,000 miles. You make a complex product that is meant to last a 'lifetime' and requires maintenance and may require service. I get it...you want your customer to send it back to Moline, Illinois! How long do you think this global customer will be loyal to your product/brand? Only up until the time they actually need to do this. Or, you can have them send it to a 'local' service agent. One could be a company you control--who's service and quality you control. Or, an 'authorized service agent' that is independent of your company. Now, if it is your company's facility, you can do it for a cost or free. You determine what 'warranty' you will provide for this decision. If it an independent company...do you think they work for free? Do you think that they will provide the same level of service that you could? Hopefully yes; but you have no control.
So, Price Manipulator, who opened a business in Moline, Illinois...and decided to market their product globally; is the cost to do business in Moline only the same as the cost to do business in Japan? Australia? France? South Africa? England? Argentina? Russia? India?
The cost of a product is not only what it costs to manufacture, but the entirety of the costs associated with it's sale and service in locations other than where it is marketed. 20 years ago you couldn't price and buy over the internet in the same manner you can today. Yes, we are global; and yes, the internet has created more buying information and opportunities, whether here or abroad. Every business that sells a product or service is or should be aware of price competition. Some of us survive and thrive and others go out of business. Every business owner makes the same decisions as do consumers. Some of you have no issue buying Grey Market...just do so fully informed. Most of us do not choose to for various reasons. None better than others. Just good enough. Nobody should judge anyone's buying decisions..just don't try and rationalize your decisions based on completely fallacious facts and 'political reasoning' (making too much $$).
There are so many other reasons why we make our purchasing decisions in the manner we each do. Everyone has their 'price level' at which they decide to pay more or less for something that does have currently unquantifiable differences. Everyone has their 'risk level' at which they are prepared to operate. You who are willing to buy cameras or lenses grey market; are you willing to buy a $75,000 car marketed and serviced in the US, for $55,000 in Poland and bring it back to the US for another $3,000 plus US/State taxes? Let's say you save $12,000 overall. And you can get it serviced in the US, but not for 'free'? Maybe some of you would; but I bet the majority of you would not. Or, closer to home..how about hiring a contractor to build you a kitchen. You got three estimates that ranged from $28,000 to $32,000. And one for $16,000. The group of three all have local places of business with an office or storefront and complete insurances that you probably never considered. The $16,000 guy works from a truck and cellphone, and does he have liability and Worker's Comp? What will you do now? Of course, buyer beware. Make rational decisions based on proper information.
So, like tvhasben has decided to buy grey market regardless of the consequences because he is willing to absorb any issues that may happen; we should all base our decisions on reality and not fabricate reasoning to justify our decisions and blame others for our our choices.
I hope that I have changed some minds so that future discussions are more reasonable.