Whoever works PR for Hasbro really needs to step in and say, "Look, this is getting borderline-sexist, please stop commenting on the characters' gender as a justification for determining which properties get green lit for production."
I feel like they harp on that way too much. I have 2 daughters and resent the implication that the heroins and villainesses are somehow second class. The show has really strong female characters, and it's a disservice to the female fans to imply that they are insignificant from a marketing standpoint.
If they don't want to make a toy because they don't think it will sell, that's fine - just say that and leave it at that. But to characterize the decision as gender-influenced as misguided at best, and offensive at worst.
Imagine the outcry if you replaced the word "female" with "African-American" or "Hispanic". (IE: "it actually suffers as a kid vehicle given it's rather unusual shape and the fact it belongs to a Hispanic antagonist") All hell would break loose. Someone at Hasbro needs a little refresher sensitivity training, IMO.