I think we're starting to see the writing on the wall for a big slow down in the Legacy line, if nothing else. Just out of curiosity, were there a number of answers leaning this way in the recent Q and A's? Just curious what brought this about - not that I can disagree.
I'm in the same boat as the majority of you. As far as the quality of the figures go, I don't know that I've ever enjoyed collecting more. Everything looks amazing, and we're getting figures I never dreamed would be made. That being said, I can also see that the well is sort of drying up for the non-CW stuff. We've gotten more than we probably ever should have as far as character selection, and each new super-background character is just more icing on the cake. I do feel like it is more difficult/stressful than ever to actually collect this stuff though, with the combination of distribution/shipping issues, price increases, and just figuring out where to put all this stuff after 10+ years.
I've advocated for a long time a slow down in the Legacy releases, at least as long as they've got this two line (or three with Legends) thing going. It is just too much, and something (most often Legacy) gets squeezed out at retail. I didn't believe it before, but it does seem like collectors have slowed down a bit or something. Whether it is at HTS or at retail, I never used to see figures from a new wave sit quite as long as they do now. Don't get me wrong, they still sell (or, as in the ROTJ wave, sell out), but some of it (like the TPM) is still available. I see some figures from the TPM wave sitting at retail locally as well, and I remember days where the day a new wave hit the pegs it was usually gone (especially with the one per case stuff).
All of the focus now seems to be on CW, which I guess in a way makes sense. The show is really fun, and kids do seem to be into it. I think there is some truth that many kids don't even know/care about the OT characters anymore, aside from "children of fans". Retail is showing the CW push as well, as I've seen an absolute ton of CW figures lately at retail, and just a trace of Legacy stuff. Hasbro seems to have plans for Legacy stuff at least through 2011, and honestly if they planned it out right, they could probably hit a lot of what needs to be done (or what we want to be done) in the next couple years. I think we'd all like to see the original Kenner line get finished up, and I personally would like to see the remakes of the main characters wrapped up (examples like Bespin Han, Hoth Luke/Leia, etc.), and a few more POTF2 days remakes (Gam. Guard, Ackbar, etc.). It may be that the CW covers that "prequel era", but I can't say there is a ton of stuff left there that I need to see done. This year we got the Obi-Wan's finished out, and I wouldn't mind seeing re-dos of some others (TPM Jar Jar/Anakin, Zam, ROTS Sidious/Palps, etc.), but we're starting to get covered pretty well there too. There will always be more stuff that we'd like to see, but I think we can all admit that we've seen a good run of figures - and a whole lot of incredibly background characters. If the line would end without a Toonbuck Toora or something for instance, I think I'd be ok. I just want all the main characters (and OT characters in particular) to get the "ultimate" versions before the end.
It also seems like any new vehicles from the movies will be done as exclusives, and looking at the vehicles done since the beginning of CW, most of them will be from the OT. That is ok with me I guess, and I understand why. I hope we continue to see some re-dos (can't wait for next year's Snowspeeder), and they get more covered before the line ends (if it does). I could see it getting more focused in the future, with maybe 25-30 figures a year, maybe even just sold through HTS (although Hasbro seems adverse to doing that). I think more and more of us are resorting to online with the Legacy stuff anymore anyways. Just put them on those vintage-esque cardbacks that are rumored for next year, and cater completely the collectors with it now. I honestly think the majority of kids could care less about Rum Sleg or Nien Nunb, but we enjoy the heck out of them.