The layout's basically the same though and Penney's is right where it always has been (dead center of the mall).  You'll dig it if you get out here to check it out. 

Personally I agree that it's not always worth frontpage news, whether it moves the front page or not.  I can't say our front page has ever sat any length of time with our current staff we have, and if it has it's been the same at other sites (who've maybe thrown some flimsy "news" together for their front page, which is fine, but I also know it's not our style to make **** up just to move a story).

The Collector's Collections stories are fine, but I know I never look at them myself (not my cup of tea to look at other people's rooms with any level of interest).  I also know I certainly wouldn't be interested in them if they weren't put together well either...  To that end I actually applaud Wise's display, it's nice.  But I have to say in the same vein that SOME collections just look "meh" posted on the front page...  be it due to the age of the collector, or his/her location.

Speaking from a vintage standpoint (my own), I wouldn't go gloating to Gus Lopez about how great my **** is because I know he'd look at it and be like, "meh, yeah, nice..." since I have much less and nothing he doesn't own in triplicate probably.  So am I a dickhole for saying "that's really not interesting to me" when I see something displayed haphazardly with a few common figures, some old micromachines stuff, etc.?  I don't think so, it's just not INTERESTING to me so I pass it over and I tend not to look at that as really impressing me on their front page (or anyone's, I just don't see it as a good reason to use front page space).  That's a matter of taste in how you run things though, that's all.

Personally I think anyone's collection is great in that it's what they have and are proud of, and it's good to be encouraging to all collectors of course.  But not everyone's stuff needs a "spotlight" shined down upon it "just to move the news along".  I feel that way about customizing, I feel that way about this hobby...  Hell, I feel that way about cars (how many times have you seen some POS someone's proud of and you are laughing in your mind at their "hard work" because all it is, ultimately, is a Honda Civic with a nice big wing and some stickers?  Right...  It's the same basic principle).  The basis for this topic has never been something that piqued my interests at their site though...  Kind of like Ebay specials and stuff.  It's generally always struck me as being as "empty" as posting nothing on your front page, but that's just my opinion.

To make it easier, we (well, I) will put forth some ground rules:  You can pick four figures per film (plus 4 from the Expanded Universe), one vehicle/beast per film, one deluxe figure per film, and one Unleashed figure OR 1 Galactic Heroes 2 pack per film (whichever you'd prefer).  What you pick is up to you, but try to keep it within those limits (as limitations often make you (well, me) realize what you would really want to see as opposed to what you think you would want to see).

Since I'd can the GH and Unleashed lines in the final year if I knew it was the final year, am I allowed to cheat and pick one more figure?  If so I'll update my post accordingly.

Episode 1, The Phantom Menace:

-SA Obi-Wan Kenobi...  Softgoods robe of course, lit and unlit sabers, and communicator on the belt.  
-SA Qui-Gon Jinn...  Same as above, simple perfection.  As super articulated as ROTS Obi Pilot.
-SA Mace Windu...  Same as above, maybe a "testing" datapad accessory or a mini-holo of QGJ or OWK.
-SA Battledroid (good plastic)...  Just a sturdy, nicely articulated battledroid.  I pick this on the assumption they'll release the figure en masse for army building glee.

-Deluxe Gragra w/Chuba Stand...  Even though I think I could do this from the Pez figure, I really still would like a full size stand and everything from Hasbro.

-Gian Speeder w/SA Naboo Soldier (You knew I'd sneak in something kick ass like that)...  Title says it all.    It's my dream so I get a good pack-in figure, so there.  This is the only vehicle worth really taking a look at "realistically" from TPM though, although I'd gladly take a to-scale Sith Infiltrator if they'd make it.  Trying for SOME level of realism though I'm going with the Gian Speeder.

-No GH or Unleashed.

Episode 2, Attack of the Clones:

-SA Jango Fett...  Easily a needed figure.  Removable helmet, working holsters, both jetpack variants.  Hell, include a sniper rifle from the Bounty Hunter game even.
-SA Zam Wessell...  She really needs redone, as does Jango, with the SA treatment. Interchangeable heads w/removable helmets, maybe a cloth face scarf...  I'd dig her then.
-Geonosian Resculpt...  As articulated as possible, detachable wings for both "versions" of the species, sturdy plastic.
-Outlander Peasant Anakin...  Super Articulated, softgoods poncho.  I just liked this outfit and since it got a little extra play in deleted scenes I would like to see it get a good figure.  Plus I'm strapped for AOTC ideas, honestly...  Short of some SA Clones in training pj's I'm really disinterested in background characters from this or TPM.

-Deluxe SA Training Clone...  Eh, so I snuck this guy in anyway.  Include some training gear like "padded" suiting for combat training, maybe a table w/food for the dining scene in their cafeteria?  I dunno, it's just a way for me to get this figure in I guess.

-Geonosian Mount w/cart...  The thing Anakin and Padme steal, basically.  It's the same animal the Geonosians rode, I think?  Whatever.  That's what I'd take, though if I was thinking unrealistically I'd want a Homing Spider Droid (to-scale), hehe.

-No Unleashed, No GH.

Episode 3, Revenge Of The Sith:

-SA Destroyer Droid...  Somehow make it able to fold up.
-SA Utapau Clone...  Removable helmet, ball/socket hips, and super articulated everywhere else.  Oh and 2 rifles so they make up for all these Rifle-less Clones we have.
-SA Mygeeto SnowClone...  Bacara needs grunts.  Articulation like above with a softgoods skirt and removable helmet.  Sweeeet.
-SA Super Battledroid...  Blast-apart feature like the AOTC figure, extra arm articulation, ankles, and good sturdy plastic of course.

-Deluxe Ultimate General Grievous...  Sofgtgoods cape, proper scale, ultimate articulation (beyond even their best to-date), split-apart arms, removable hands where appropriate...  The Ultimate Grievous.  Oh, and little "pockets" in the cape for hanging hilts.  Oh, and since it's my wish I'd make them have a "blast apart" feature on it like the SBD has with a Clone Wars "crumpled" chest you can snap on.  They can do that and make it work on the SBD so Grievous can have it too.  That's $10 worth of figure to me.

-Republic Gunship Resculpt...  The Gunship gets resculpted to-scale, 2 properly scaled gunner turrets included, and every feature the first Gunship had as well.  I like the Gunship that's out for all the effort it has, but its scale bothers me and I want bigger/better.

-No GH, no Unleashed.

Episode 4, A New Hope:

-SA Rebel Fleet Trooper...  Like you didn't see this coming?  Removable helmet, flexible removable vest, working holster, ball/socket hips plus super articulation everywhere else, head variants, scanner pistol...  My dream figure.  
-Tie between Garrouf Lafoe & Deleted Scene Jabba...  I really want the Cantina snitch, and I really want big fat Irish human Jabba.  I'm cheating with a "tie" here but in the end I'd likely take the snitch over Jabba since he was in the film prominently enough.
-Hem Dazon...  Hem's the Cantina alien I find most memorable, and I'm amazed he has yet to get a figure.  He's the first you see for god's sake!
-Cantina Han Solo (just kidding).
-Rebel Honor Guard...  Super Articulated honor guard with pike, removable RFT helmet (with visor down).  I liked these guys and somehow think they'll never get a figure and they should.  Thoughhhhh...  I could really also dig a Rebel Officer (the mid-level officers in ballcap style hats).    Potentially another tie here.

-Deluxe SA Rebel Tech w/Sled...  Rebel Tech with a troop sled, super articulated figure, removable helmet, light sticks.  Oh joy!

-To-scale X-Wing...  Without a doubt it's my favorite ship of the saga, and while I'd like a Y-Wing, the X-Wing's terribly underscaled too, and now is a must-have against the new TIE Fighter.  Opening cockpit, droid socket, and opening cargo hold too.

-No Unleashed, no GH.

Episode 5, The Empire Strikes Back:

-SA Han Solo Hoth Gear...  My ideal would have a softgoods hood you could pull down and a removable helmet.  I just know Han needs redone irregardless of what color his coat may be this time.  That Saga figure was weak.
-SA Hoth Rebel Soldier...  The footsoldier needs a good figure finally, after 3 failures previously.  Super articulated, removable helmet, head variants, working holster w/sidearm, rifle (sturdy plastic), and a softgoods scarf attached to the helmet.  Sweeeeeeet.
-SA Imperial Storm"Snow"Trooper...  Another must-have after 2-3 lackluster figures.  A working holster, softgoods mask and skirt, and articulation out the ying yang would be awful nice.
-SA Snowspeeder Pilot (Dak)...  A super articulated "generic" pilot.  I'd take Dak, Hobbie, or Jansen...  Really probably one of the latter two due to the unique helmet paintjobs.  It'd just be nice to have a good snowspeeder pilot at the end for army builders and customizers.

-Deluxe Ultimate Imperial Officer...  This is a figure I've "engineered" to fill multiple roles.  First, it's a SA Imperial Officer sculpt obviously.  Second, there's at least 3 unique heads per set (1 Chief Bast, 1 Jeremy Bulloch, and 1 Gen. Veers).  Third there's removable armor, belt w/working holster, helmet, and kepi hat.  Fourth there's snap-on rank badges (4 bar, generals bars, and 1-row 4-bar.  And fifth, the figure's released in black and grey variants.  Yes, that's the ultimate Imperial Officer, and it knocks off a Veers figure, a Bulloch Officer, and Chief Bast...  Veers is the head on the figure in the packaging though so it's an ESB figure.    Yeah I cheated witht his, but man I'm proud of myself.  And it's still one $10 figure technically.

-To-Scale Snowspeeder...  Finally resculpt that thing so it's the proper "tiny" scaled ship.  I will say I'd give a very honorable mention to the AT-ST however the Hoth "variant" of the walker isn't my favorite and I think the ENdor one's better looking.    But anyway, a to-scale Snowspeeder is LONG overdue and I'm tired of that hulking (though nicely sculpted) one from the vinty days.

-No GH, no Unleashed.

Episode 6, Return Of The Jedi:

-SA Luke Skywalker (Endor/Death Star)...  This will be the definitive Luke figure for ROTJ really.  SA, softgoods poncho, removable helmet (Saga one even), removable poncho belt, removable Jedi vest (for his DS duel outfit underneath).  Just a good perfect Luke for this film.
-SA Leia Endor...  Pretty much the same as above.  Good double for a Home One Leia too, but removable helmet, softgoods poncho and belt (with working holster).  Just a great Leia figure.
-SA Han Solo Endor...  Again, same as above but with a removable softgoods trench coat.  A softgoods sachel with detonators in it would be kinda neat too, but not a must.
-SA Rebel Commando (Endor)...  I want the 3rd version of the Rebel Commando with the camo jacket on but opened exposing his standard uniform underneath.  Give him the softgoods sachel with detonators actually.  Removable helmet with head variants a must!

-Deluxe Biker Scout w/Bike...  The ultimate biker scout sculpt, with ultimate articulation (TE Gunner hip joints are a must so he can ride his bike properly).  Also a newly scupted to-scale Speeder bike w/clear stand for it so it appears to hover.  Working holster on the scout for his sidearm, and we're set...  A sniper rifle from Battlefront?  One could dream.

-Resculpt AT-ST To-Scale...  Like the Snowspeeder it'd be sweet to see the AT-ST get a to-scale sculpt.  It's really not that large.  Include 2 AT-ST Pilot pack-ins (even if they re-use the Imp. Officer sculpt with the POTJ TIE Pilot's articulated legs), and I'd be a happy camper.  New AT-ST Pilots would be nice though.  Full interior, opening hatches (and viewport windows), and that's a great vehicle that I'd buy at least 6 of.

-No Unleashed, No GH.

Expanded Universe:

-SA Kyle Katarn...  Jedi Knight Style sculpt, light saber, Imp. Repeater Rifle, Bryar Pistol & Railgun from first figure, and a removable bandoleir of Thermal Detonators.  Kyle's one of the best EU characters ever, without a doubt.
-SA NJO Luke Skywalker...  Old Luke, softgoods robes...  He's a must have even though I'm critical of the NJO series as it's heavily flawed IMO.
-SA Jan Ors...  What's Kyle without Jan?  SA her, give her some gear (goggles, etc.), and I'd be happy.
-SA Rebel Infiltrator...  Basically, imagine the Rebel Alliance's best troopers...  Snake Eyes if he were an Alliance Commando instead of a GI Joe.    Give him throwing knives you can hide in a working sheath, a modified E-11 blaster, a grappling hook, and the modified Rebel Commando helmet and that's a kick ass figure.

-Deluxe Zero-G Stormtrooper...  The Imperial Stormtrooper's best troops, the Zero G Troopers (West End Games design, not that POS EU figure from 98) are BIG self-contained space suits.  Make it like the GI Joe Snake suit though that you could actually figure a figure inside, and include an Imperial Zero-G Trooper in his black body glove (IE: The body glove Stormies wear under their armor).  Super Articulated, all the little guns and tools...  This would be a fantastic figure and would look amazing in the packaging.

-TIE Defender...  Done to-scale, it's the single EU Ship I would absolutely have to have, even though the Moldy Crow (Katarn's ship) is a very close 2nd.  The TIE Defender's just the perfect EU craft to me.

-No GH, No Unleashed.

And I'm going to cheat and take another EU round, and here's why.  The new Clone Wars series is due out in 2007 so I figure new Clone Wars toys may happen, or at least would have more a chance, so I'm separating them from the generic EU topic and adding a "Clone Wars" line too Doctor Padawan, sorry.

Clone Wars (All Realistic Sculpts over Cartoon Sculpts):

-SA ARC Trooper (with Episode 2 and 3 styled Clone helmets)...  Basically it's just as it says, and the extra styled helmets are just for those who like ARCs in all eras.  Softgoods Kama/skirt, and working holsters.  Include some of the weapons they had like the shoulder fired launcher or the mini-gun and that'd rock to me.
-SA Obi-Wan General Armor...  Obi in his Clone Armor, simple.
-SA Assajj Ventress...  Softgoods skirt and cloak.
-SA Anakin (Yavin IV Battle)...  Softgoods tunic/robes for a battleworn look when removed for his battle with Assajj on Yavin IV.

-Deluxe IG Lancer Droid...  Durge's IG Lander Droid, super articulated, with speederbike and lance.  Sweet.

-To-Scale Fanblade Fighter...  Assajj's fighter.

-No GH, No Unleashed.

Well, that felt like a really long post.

Sucks to even think about the death of the line really, especially with things finally turning for the better in the last 2 years or so...  Many more hits than misses, whereas the line was littered with misses for the majority of its 10 years while the hits were fewer and farrer between (even though they did keep things fun).

ROTS's line and OTC all renewed my hope for the line and the potential to get really neat, and obscure items, army builder focused things, etc.

Indeed Dave those are 21st as Vator mentioned.

They're the half-assed modern figures they made (the Arab figures are ok, and a sneaky means of getting around PC police by making them "allies" but also making them look noticeably crazy).  The Spec. Forces and British SAS are weak efforts though good sculpts on the faces/heads.

I got the Comic-Con set when Matt was out there (these were from last year, not this past year), and they were neat to have but short of buying extra arabs for SOMEONE to shoot at my modern figures, I really am not too into them.  Plus $30's even more than they sold for at CC, yikes.

Weird seeing them at Target.  Be nice if they'd get off their ass and carry 21st stuff.  They do have the BBI "Cheapies" (not the high-quality Elite Force line at TRU, but knock-off styled figures put out also by BBI at Target's request).

If I walked in Target and found pegs full of Battle of the Bulge figures, Japanese, or revised Series 1 Infantry, I'd be all about that.

Dave hooked me up with some figures I wanted for a poster he wanted.  Smooooooove as buttah, baby!

Always a trustworthy guy this Jokabofe.

It already has some places...  Some of my WM's have dramatically cut peg space for the basic figures.  Shelf space was cut even worse, so I'm sure it'll dwindle as the movie high dies a slow death.

It's going good though yet, impressive.

It's amazing what good quality toys, and a good film, can do for a toy line.  Compared to 99 and 02, it's easy to see just how big of a "bust" those lines were ultimately, what with buy-backs, re-distribution, Sales Expectations unmet, etc.

Jesse, I have a Silver Fett carded, perhaps other stuff, I'll PM you when I get a chance to look at a full list of your needs.  If you're buying (I have very little I need in trade that you wouldn't be looking for yourself) I'll gladly sell.  I gotta get room here, haha.

I'll dig through when I'm home with a lotta time to look through and compare with what I think/know I have.

And Pittsburgh is still 100% dry on Evolutions.  They were sporatically spotted, you hear a report about one or two cases showing up at most, but never any big payday on these and they sell immediately it seems.

I'm SOL on finding them at retail but SithLordChaos helped me get a set.  Now I'm just onto getting doubles and any additional extras I want.  I'm not very hopeful on these for some reason, but keep hoping they show up like VOTC some day and just pile up on us.