Essentially all of you are correct. Sometimes in the interest of researching the "whys' and origins and history of some things, we can make them more complex, (and as such convoluted) than they really are.
Japanese translating from the Chinese Chuanfa kanji gives us the English "m" spelling for technical reasons of the language. However an English translation gives us the "n" without the Japanese technicalities of its translations. So those whose lineage is more Japanese favor the "m" with the Chinese version "n" prone.
Chow being Chinese American utilized the "n" version, but so did some Okinawa's who drew originally from the Chinese. Also those from Hawaii regardless of lineage seemed to favor the English "n."
But then after leaving it"s Hawaiian roots, It was simply a matter of marketing of a product, and "adjusting" for lineage preferences in an effort to carve out a distinctive identity from that that already existed.
Ed Parker mirrored these sentiments and elaborated by speaking of other "commercial" arts that were "created" and sprang into existence in form on the mainland to sell. Martial arts was beginning to come out of the College universities and YMCA backrooms to the store front to satisfy the American appetite, and latch onto the American Dollar.
The "professional martial artist" was born. Not that some didn't have legitimate roots and lineage, but modifications to sell a product was evident and Parker embraced it himself as well.
Ultimately this commerciality permeated all styles from every lineage in time, and all reasonable rules of style names, lineages, etc gave way to marketing in an effort to carve out a piece of the American Dream Pie.
Attempting to make "sense" in this environment is an exercise in futility at best. Even Parker had to admit the futility of it all. His own art(s) and split off lineages were all constructs of cultural contridictions. His Kenpo was Chinese in origin, infused with Okinawan/Japanese influences that changed to Chinese on the mainland, than "Americanized" for marketing.
Now everything is "karate" with a modifier whether it be TKD-Karate, JKD-Karate, Japanese Kempo Karate, Chinese Kenpo Karate, Shaolin Kempo Karate, etc. The next phase is a convert back to jiujitsu, now packaged and commercialized and Americanized into Brazillian, MMA, NHB. etc.
All the signage and windows that back in the day said "Karate," changed to "Taekwondo/Karate," to "Kung-Fu/Karate," than "Ninjitsu/Karate" for a while. Now that "Karate" has become saturated and generic, - UFC/MMA/NHB Jiujtsu grappling whatever Pay-Per-View style is a part of everyones teaching. Truth is, you have to actually see and evaluate everything on an individual basis to untangle the commercial mesh mash of marketed martial products and names.
What happened to the purists? - They either went out of business along time ago, or still have jobs to support themselves and them dam daughters.
