I think the no pilot/all droid is the way it is in the movie. The sphere kinda lends itself to a cockpit and also adds more play value. I know I prefer the figure interaction with vehicles, especially when overall accuracy is not sacrificed.

Marauder will be at Joe Con in Dallas this month, I'm sure he'll have a timeline on his newest items.  I'll also snap some photos if he has new product...after I buy it of course.

Hey Paul. I was wondering if you found anything about the next wave of guns. My Storm Troopers are waiting anxiously to get their hands on some MG-34 rifles.

Bought some figures from Rob several weeks ago. Great guy, fast communication, awesome products, and fast shipping! I would not hesitate to do further business with him... highly recommended!

Edited for a WTB thing

As good of an idea as it is, I don't think it will happen. If you know when Target has what you want, you won't go as often. When you don't go as often, then you aren't as tempted to pick up that new movie that you wanted to see, or try those new potato chips. For me, when I go on a toy run and start coming up empty handed, I'm lured into buying other stuff that I may or may not want.

For example, I went to Target last week. No toys to buy, so I picked up the new Coldplay album. If I knew when Target had the toys I wanted, I would only go to Target to buy toys. All of my music purchases would be reserved for iTunes, food purchases would be reserved for Food Lion or Lowes, etc. That would cost Target some business, so that's bad for them. 

Master Sal, you're not thinking like Hasbro. If the tank is made, we'll eventually have repaints for each major (hell, even minor) Jedi character thrown our way. I cannot wait to own Kit Fisto's Green, Yellow, and Orange TX-130 fighter Tank.

Hell, speaking of repaints, why hasn't the AT-AP had repaints for Jedi? I want Anakin Skywalker's bright yellow Assault Walker!

On a serious note, Hasbro usually matches Lego on the cheaper ($20-$30) vehicle front. Sometimes there is a delay of a few months, but it seems to eventually happen if the vehicle is action oriented or very prominent. Judging by the pattern below, I'd say these vehicles (tank and Droid Gunship) will be out by the end of the year.

Attack of the Clones
       - Jedi Starfighter (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
       - Slave 1 (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
       - Coruscant Speeders (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
       - Republic Gunship (Lego available on launch day, Hasbro's is available several months later)
       - Anakin's and Dooku's Speeders (Lego available upon launch day, Hasbro releases exclusives in 2003)
       - Geonosian Fighter (Lego available late 2002/early 2003, Hasbro released in late 2003)
        - Hailfire Droid (Lego and Hasbro versions released months apart in 2003)

Revenge of the Sith
        - Wookiee Flyer (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
        - AT-RT (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
        - ARC-170 (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
        - Spider Droid (Hasbro and Lego versions released a couple of months apart)
        - Mustafar Playset (Hasbro and Lego versions released several months apart) 
        - Droid Tri-Fighter (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day) 
        - Jedi Starfighter (Hasbro and Lego versions available prior to launch day) 
        - Boga/Grievous' Wheelbike (Hasbro and Lego versions available upon launch day)   
        - V-Wing (2006 Lego Release, 2007 Hasbro Release)
        -Grievous' Starfighter (2006 Lego Release, 2007 Hasbro release)
        -AT-AP (Hasbro and Lego versions available in early 2007)   

I'd say there is a pretty strong correlation between what Lego and Hasbro produce in movie years. This is already lining up this year with the AT-TE, Republic Gunship, V-19, Jedi Starfighter, and Homing Spider Droid. I can't say this enough: Hasbro will produce this tank before too long.

I cannot help but think that a lot of these 'rumor' lists are just fan wishlists. If these are true, then Hasbro seems to be cranking out a helluva lot of collector friendly figures. If they were going to end the line by the end of 2010, I could see all of these coming out. As of now, I think a lot of these are just the ideal figures for the Legacy Collection dreamed up by some fanboy or ideas that are in really, really early stages of development at the Big H.