The title made me bookmarked this post so I MUST read it and here I am! PORK cooked in any way is LIFE! Though I've tried many vegan food, just cause my colleague is one, it WILL NEVER come close to the real thing. Just like you mentioned.

In Malaysia, we have vegan restaurant and their veges are made in a way it looks and tastes like meat. A mockup meat.... I mean why try to fool urself into eat meat when it's not.