Interesting read....they mention the dropoff in action figure sales - despite the blockbuster movies - is just that there is so much out there these days, which I can see. One thing that really helped Star Wars was that it stayed in the theaters half the year, and for the most part, it was the only game in town in those days. Most of the "big" movies from our childhoods (Star Wars, Indy, E.T., Back to the Future, Karate Kid, Goonies, etc.) were movies without toylines (or very small ones). Star Wars really dominated the movie-franchised stuff back then, and even into the 90s, whereas now there are 3-5 movie supported lines each year from Hasbro alone. Different world. It does make me wonder where action figures are headed in another 5-10 years though.
2007 was the TAC collection, and was pretty well received if I remember correctly. Nice figures, nice accessories, and coins. I remember that year being a pretty "fun" year to collect. Like Jesse, I appreciate a more scaled back approach to Star Wars. I don't need to be tracking down 60-80 figures a year, especially at these prices, and it gets to be burnout at this point. Plus, although I know it won't happen, I really wish there was one, unified line. Find that happy medium between the $6 Legends and the $10 Black Series and get a $7 or $8 figure, with 35-40 figures/year. Easier to keep up with, and I'm sure we'd see more stuff on a movie year. Of course, if Disney's plans hold, every year will be a movie year once Episode VII hits. Collecting could really change for us again then, because if we do get a yearly movie, I wonder how much room there will be for OT stuff (or PT stuff for that matter).
They had a topic about this on Yakface the other day as well, about what we'd like to see when the big Episode VII push begins. I know we'll likely never hit the glory days of ROTS and its $4.99 figures (and pretty nicely done figures even at that), but if we could get back in the $7 or $8 range, and have quality along that TAC collection lines, I think I'd be pretty happy. It honestly seems like Hasbro is treading water (with 3 3/4" in particular) until the movie(s) start up, or at least Rebels. Don't get me wrong, there is some neat stuff on the way with that Empire themed wave, but it doesn't seem like those lines - the Black Series in particular - are a top priority right now.