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In 3.X, magic item creation required XP, which simulacra didn't have, but in Pathfinder that is possible.
Since you can't sell magic items for more than half their value, which is the same cost to create them, it's really only a time-saving measure to have simulacra create magic items for you (allowing you to do other things, while your simulacra does the scut work of making low level items for you and your allies).
In 3.X, magic item creation required XP, which simulacra didn't have, but in Pathfinder that is possible.
Since you can't sell magic items for more than half their value, which is the same cost to create them, it's really only a time-saving measure to have simulacra create magic items for you (allowing you to do other things, while your simulacra does the scut work of making low level items for you and your allies).
3.X kept it under control, but the gloves are off a bit for Pathfinder on this. As per the above, this is not much more than a time saver, really, but worth doing.
I used to keep the brakes on Sims via the required 1000 gp/hd of rubies required. Rubies don't have to be common (and aren't particularly common here on Earth - most come from the Mogok Valley - see wikipedia). Since they were so valuable - I had Kingdoms declare things like rubies a "strategic resource", and PC's then had to compete against nations to get their hands on them. I also require a piece of the creature to be sim'd - I houseruled that immediately. This still works for Pathfinder too, except for one nasty new hiccup...
The Alchemist and their 100 gp of alchemical materials per HD for Alchemical Sim creation. Sim pricing cut by 90% AND nothing about specific rare materials required. I don't think the folks at Paizo thought this one through, frankly. Now, if that 100 gp was a typo and it was supposed to be 1000 gp (in line with the Simulacrum spell...) well, the price starts to be somewhat more restrictive.
So, I'd expect a lot of low level magic junk being readily available - any nation worth it's salt is going to setup a few Sim factories to mass produce stuff. I mean, I would, and I rather doubt I have a 20+ super-genius INT score that a lot of wizards, alchemists, etc might have. Someone in Golarion has to be smart enough to do things like this - it just seems nonsensical to me that it such things wouldn't appear.
But then, as a GM, I like to adjust my campaign to interesting tidbits and strategies that can appear. Simply disallowing is just as valid for a GM. Different strokes for different folks, y'know.
Scary thing per RAW - Alchemical sims at 100 gp/HD. Knowledge of a 20th level character (wizard, sorc, whatever) or decent monster with fun abilities. No requires piece of the creature (as RAW). Create piles of 10th level casters for 1000 gp per. Or monster armies. Etc.
I think that a piece of the creature to be duplicated HAS to be part of the process.
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I think that a piece of the creature to be duplicated HAS to be part of the process.
There are a ton of house-rule options to get Simulacrum under control;
1) Requires a part of the creature to be duplicated.
2) If the creature being duplicated is not a willing participant in the spell, it is allowed a Will save to prevent itself from being duplicated in this manner (failure wastes the components).
3) Simulacra, as creatures of shadow-energy given substance, cannot magically produce anything other than shadow conjuration-like duplicates of magical effects, that are only 20% real (so, it might be able to make a wand of lightning bolts, but the wand will be actually a wand of shadow evocation - lightning bolt, instead). Supernatural abilities of monster simulacra (such as the breath of a dragon) are similarly reduced in potency, and other effects (such as a Medusa sim's gaze or poison, or a save-or-suck or save-or-die spell) get an extra Will save to disbelieve them.
4) Simulacra are tied to the 'shadow' of the individual they duplicate. No more than one simulacra can be made of a specific person (so a 12th level craftsmage can't whip up twenty 6th level simulacra of himself and set them to work), and if that original person dies, his simulacra immediately dies as well (although, if he's raised from the dead, a new simulacra can be made, at the normal cost).
5) Nobody can have more than their CL or 2x CL in simulacra at one time (similar to the total number of HD worth of undead someone can have under control via animate dead).
6) Simulacra cannot create simulacra.
7) Temporary or item-derived buffs to CL or HD are not considered when calculating total HD for purposes of making a simulacra.
8) The spell only lasts 30 days. It can be recast upon a pre-existing simulacra (so that it doesn't 'wink out' and need to be replaced), but the cost remains the same.
9) Simulacra can make great replacements for people, in a pinch, but lack some sort of vital spark, and can never have the Leadership feat.
Pick one or several options, until the spell is usable, but doesn't run the risk of making the setting go in a direction you don't like.
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There are a ton of house-rule options to get Simulacrum under control;
5-9) I should of included 3-4 in this also but where are you getting all this random weird info because i know it's not in the spell or any of the books.
They were meant as house rule suggestions. You won't find them in the books, because then they wouldn't be house rules, they'd be game rules.