Replicators existed as far back as catspaw when the aliens tried to bribe kirk with gold and jewels and kirk replied he could just make a ton of those on the Enterprise if he wantedActually, Trek has been perfectly consistent with replicators. A replicatior can manufacture anything which advances the current plot, and will always fail to manufacture anything which would disrupt said plot.
 
				 
 
		
 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		
 
 
		 
 
		 
	 
 
		 
 
		