I just looked at some Christmas 2006 approved rope light. The difference is the actuall connection to the rope is a molded connector. It had a threaded end with male and female pins. These are 25' strings, packaged 2 in a box and I paid $6 for it. The only difference between this and the original product is you can't take the connectors off the rope. A very simple and safe answer to the "cutting" issue would be a glued on, permanent cap for the cut end. Perhaps the manufacturer would do that and seek the listing if the demand was there
