once lee got beaten by gaara......he became a far less significant character of the series......at least for about a years worth or so of it anyway.

There's always the possibilty that the entire purpose of kishimoto creating a character like lee was solely for sasuke to copy him. ::runs from the angry mob of lee fans::

keep in mind though.....that its characteristic of the sharingan users to copy moves.....its what makes their bloodline so powerful.