Are most of the hoodia gordonii supplements and pills sold in the U.S. counterfeit or otherwise lacking in the actual component of hoodia itself?

As always, you usually get what you pay for. I am always skeptical with supplements unless the manufacturer can supply verifiable data and research that shows where their raw materials come from. In other words, I rarely buy vitamins and supplements at a grocery store, since I believe most of those products are a waste of time and money.

There are many fillers manufacturers can use to stuff pills with while including a tiny amount of actual vitamins or minerals, so you are best to research your chosen supplements very carefully or you could be swallowing sawdust for all you know.