I agree costs are increasing, but spread across the line, there's things counter-balancing that, which is my point... It's fine to say 1999 was an anomoly, but only 2 instances as examples post 1999 don't make up a trend is my point there... Citing the movie years just doesn't stand up as well as an argument for price increases. Still though, we're looking at a pretty significant % increase since 2002, and that's compared to most any product on the market, which that's simple mathematics and comparisons... Everything's impacted by inflation, but to what extent? Is Star Wars somehow hit harder? It's not even doubtful, it's simply impossible. Everyone with similar manufacturing woes is hit in the same fashion.
It's impossible to argue inflation though so that's not the point of the discussion obviously... I think we are seeing Hasbro combat that through things like "Saga Legends", 6 repaints of the same ship mold, etc., so the reality is that for inflation's problems there are diminishing cost methods of battling that, which is clearly something Hasbro's implemented (and said as much) to put profitability into the line for themselves and counter-balance the increases in costs that they are facing from a resources aspect in creating new product. THat's fine too, it's why I'm not nearly as upset by a lot of re-hashed product.
I have no doubts Darryl has a lot of headaches from cost standpoints in the line, but at the end of the day it's in his best interest to make us feel like they barely are able to operate at the capacities they do, for "our benefit". So considering everything I've seen with budget fudging in business over the years so you give the best possible scenario for YOUR situation to your consumers and execs, I think I'll also take Darryl's woes on the costs with a slight grain of salt. I'm sure it's not the doom and gloom some think it is with the line, and at the same time I'm sure it's a difficult balancing act too. I guess at the end of the day I chalk it up to the "rubbery plastic" excuse... We got about 5 different ones till they settled on one, all from Hasbro's mouth, so yeah they will fib to you a little bit when it suits them and how they're perceived by their buying public. That's me though... I believe what I believe about the matter and have plenty of good reason to the same as others feel the way they do, but nobody knows short of seeing the budget laid out for a single average figure in detail... So it's a moot point regardless to me.