The "paywall", in this context, refers to a specific figure being exclusively available to one Haslab release.  At $400 or $500, that's a potential obstacle that might prevent people from getting a figure that they want.  I don't think it's out of line to call it that among the collecting community.

Yes but I'm not a casual collector. I am clamoring for the Tonnika sisters. I don't want a playset for $400. It would be a dick move to then stick them in a set that costs $400 when they (not that they are gonna make them) finally do make them. All they are doing is annoying one of the people that still buys most of their product. One of the few people that doesn't think everything they do is already a dick move. I don't have to be on an extreme budget to not want the cantina.

I keep wondering if Steve Evans came back and wasn’t thrilled with the design (and maybe the parallel tie-in offerings) in some way or other and is just overhauling the project more than switching it from Haslab to preorder.

Dabney Coleman has passed away.

No change in the status of my order.  But I think we're on the verge of A LOT of things shipping, this set included.  Maybe things will change this week?  But my order still shows a late June delivery date.