copy method important?

[rmiller]

All,
Though we're not discussing entanglement per se, some of these examples 
surely meet the criteria.  So, my thought question for the day: is the 
method of copying important?
        Example #1: we start with a single marble, A.  Then, we magically 
create a copy, marble B--perfectly like marble B in every way. . .that is, 
the atoms are configured similarly, the interaction environment is the 
same--and they are indistinguishable from one another.
        Example #2: we start with a single marble A.  Then, instead of 
magically creating a copy, we search the universe, Tegmarkian-style, and 
locate a second marble, B that is perfectly equivalent to our original 
marble A.  All tests both magically avoid QM decoherence problems and show 
that our newfound marble is, in fact, indistinguishable in every way from 
our original.
        Here's the question:  Are the properties of the *relationship* 
between Marbles A and B in Example #1 perfectly equivalent to those in 
Example #2?
        If the criteria involves simply analysis of configurations at a 
precise point in time, it would seem the answer must be "yes."  On the 
other hand, if the method by which the marbles were created is crucial to 
the present configuration, then the answer would be "no."

R. Miller