I'm a little disappointed witht he new Class I sets as well... not even just paint, but the direction in general. I've soured a little even on the Yoda fighter over time. Again, not paint, but the concept. For me, the ship's too small to be practical as a starfighter. To me, the original design of that ship was kind of pushing the limits of a fighter and I was glad it needed a separate hyper ring. In the OT then the A-Wing is similar, cutting edge fighter technology, and has progressed to include a smaller hyperdrive and things. Whole side topic there.
Anyway, So that Anakin to Vader looks a lot to me like they're ALREADY looking to resculpt and redo the light-up saber Anakin and Vader. I couldn't be less interested if they tried to specifically look at me as a person, and design something I wasn't interested in.
As far as reducing articulation... I'm only in favor, at this point, with a SIGNIFICANT price reduction. Not $8, not $7... 5 POA is a $5 figure to me, at best.
I don't think every figure needs Super articulation... Again, I'll cite figures like the OTC Death Star Gunner. A really perfect figure, top to bottom, for the most part. He's far from SA though. Lacking ankle joints, and having simple angle-cut elbows, he's just not SA. But he works in every way. He's a figure I love to still pick up.
Likewise his AT-AT Driver counterpart. Same deal. I can deal with figures like that for sure. But as far as I'm concerned Hasbro's regressed the line more than enough. The paint aps are often a joke at this point, and the accessory count is nowhere near what it used to be. Some still get a nice treatment, but they're the exception and not the rule now.
I think there's room to drift away from SA, but not without price reductions. Right now you get a premium price and a fairly premium toy for it (paint aps and frequently impressive accessories aside). Take away the rest of the "premium" feel and the price not budging? Sorry, but **** that.