I have no idea as to the quality of these replicas. Obviously, they don't come with the presentation cases, which many of the medals come with depending on the level of the award. Logically, I would assume the quality is not as good hence the need for a standard procedure that allows someone to request replacement medals. If the replicas were of equal quality, why the need for the military to have a standard procedure for replacements?
"If the replicas were of equal quality, why the need for the military to have a standard procedure for replacements?"
If you were needing all that came with the medals then I would see the need to go thru the military. As in the case I read where a wife was wanting to replace her husbands's medals & such that had been lost. But if you only wanted the medals & it to be a confidential transaction, you could go thru one of the websites that sells them.