Joseph and sushibagel: No one is disputing the fact that we always dressed differently than the goyim, but that wasn’t the point. Some of things that Jews insist on holding dear and look down on those who don’t conform, were really copied from Goyim. Making a slight change doesn’t negate that fact.
sushibagel: If you google pictures of Russian Noblemen and see their streimel like hats and then find pictures of streimels from the same era, you’ll find any difference, if there is one at all, to be negligible.
I thought it was very funny when I saw a Chassidish kids book that had a picture of Moshe Rabbeinu wearing a streimel. So much for being factual.