Get the real thing. If you buy a knock off, you will always have that in the back of your mind as long as you have the chair. You’re likely not buying the chair purely for its function since you require such a specific design. If you like the chair because of the design and it’s place in design history then pay for the real deal. If you really shouldn’t be spending that kind of money on a chair at this point in your life, either put off the purchase or scour the internet for a good deal on a second-hand one. I found two white Magis Chair 1s for $175 on craigslist when I was in grad school. I love a deal!