Reading Hasbro's release this is my take:

The Sandcrawler IS dead period unless it is picked up this year. Next year we will not see it since Ep. III IS 2005. No retailer is going to pick up an orginial series item during a movie year. So if no retailer picks up the SC, this thing is not going to happen.

Look for mutiple case assortments with the OTC line. That means the newer figures will be harder to find while the repacks are going to be abudnant i.e. "to try and ensure that the MOST POPULAR figures are available . . . " Most popular is not collector most popular. So looks like I am going to save time and money come summer and fall since I am an opener and don't need repacks! Bring on the Unleash line!

I'm am glad that for this set for 2 reasons:

1. Nice to see some Ep. I stuff coming back
2. Good for the army builders and those who missed it the first time.

Personally though, I will pass. I do not need any of these figures. Now imagine if on like the Star Destroyer Wave that Hasbor had put Bossk, Dengar, 300th Edition Boba, and a new 4-Lom or other bounty hunter in a 4 pack! Watch the sales fly!
Or imagine if the new figures in the OTC line came in a 4 pack.  That would be awesome too. Alas, I will return from the land of dreams.

I think OTC will be far easier to find. Especially as we near the release of the DVD and then the holiday season. Really with the OTC there are not alot of lines coming out, 7 I think all by the end of the year if I remember correct. However, what is out in December is what will probably be out since it is a non-movie year prior to the movie year.

R1-G4 is a peg warmer at my local Wally and has been for three months now. Lando if you need one I too would be willing to pick one up for you at cost plus the shipping; just PM me. I'm in the Salt Lake City area but priority mail is same cost regardless.

I am not sad to see the Saga line end. I have to say that POTJ in my opinion is still the pinnacle of lines. Saga started with those AWESOME action features and WONDERFUL sculpts!  After that I think Hasbro messed around and had maybe, four or five good sculpts. Then the end of 2003 hit and this year. Repack heaven is here. I mean some of the figures needed to be redone I guess, but I hate the fact that there is NO consistency on size or proporations on the figures in the saga line. Look at Gold Leader vs the other fighter pilots. I mean, POTJ Buckteeth Luke (not a good sculpt) and Red Leader Pilot (new head same body as POTJ Luke in Xwing gear) do not even match up! One example.
So in the end, as Saga goes, I saw farewell with no regrets; well with one regret. I fear that the Ep. III line may not learn the lessons of the Saga line and were in for more cheaply done figures. That is why POTJ was so good. It learned and built on both the positives and negatives of the Ep. I line. If the Clone Wars line of last summer is any indication, Hasbro has not learned from the failings of the Saga line.
The OTC line has some good figures in it, but far too many are repacks.

Han, I'll pass on.  Lando, I'll need to see the figure to decide but I will pick up Crix, since I do not have him.

Actually, Tanus should start to become easier to find.  EE has him coming out two per case in a new case assortment that should arrive in May, maybe it is hitting now. J'Quille should be the hard one cause he is only in one case with no future release in another wave assortment out at this time. Hasbro could change all of that.
I personally think the Saga will be hard to find until late October and early November. After the OTC has been released, I think we'll see the Saga hit the holiday rush like we did in 2003.  Then next Jan. to April becomes VERY dry for collectors.

Thanks for the report. I will have to see these in the store in order to decide if I want em. I have a POTF Bossk, and he is a good figure to display. Is the new Bossk smaller then the POTF one? I do not want to make him look like a wimp.
Dengar I am glad to hear is good. I do not have a Dengar so I will pick him up.
Admiral Ozzel sounds like a disappointment.

Your info is helpful. Anyone else have an opinion on these figures?