Many good points here.
Price increases beyond reasonable consumer expectations
Display/storage issues
Ever aging collecting base
etc.
Personally, I've planned for years to draw down my budget for SW, so the recession and price increases only played a small part. Basically it made it even easier to stay within the budget I afforded to SW toys.
I don't expect Hasbro to lower the price of toys. They've gotten used to us (and by us I mean collectors and kids and their parents alike) paying top dollar for an action figure. There is definitely some greed in that aspect. What we can only hope for is no new price increases for many years to come.
I wouldn't mind seeing the BaD parts go away if it meant a dollar drop in figure prices, but that remains to be seen. The line definitely needs to consolidate to two lines instead of three. In fact I could see it all being one line.
With 12 figures in a case, there are many options for case assortment. Here are some examples:
Case A-Even Split
This case includes 4 figures each of Animated, Realistic, Legends (can be both Animated and Realisitic reissues)
Case B-shortpacked Legends
This case includes 4 Animated and 6 Realistic figures as well as 2 Legends figures. Or the alternate 6 Animated, 4 Realistic and 2 Legends.
Case C-Heavy Animated
Case includes 8 Animated, 4 Realistic NO Legends.
Case D-Heavy Realistic
Case includes 4 Animated, 8 Realistic NO Legends.
Case E-Animated Double Up
Case includes 2X each of 6 Animated figures No Realistic, No Legends
Case F-Realistic Double Up
Case includes 2X each of 6 Realistic figures No Animated, No Legends
in all cases, NONE of the Animated or Realistic figures are rereleases unless they are considered "Legends."
Legends really needs to be pared down. Yes, Hasbro, we understand you say that helps to keep costs down. But it's at the expense of precious peg space. When we see a lot of Legends stuff, not only are we not seeing NEW figures, but we're not seeing the reissued stuff move either. This can't be good for the line. You may have saved production costs, but at the cost of the consumer actually BUYING your product. We know you get tired of hearing from we collectors that we want new stuff, but that is just the way it is. You ask us to buy Battle Packs with multiple reissues in them with MAYBE one new or retooled figure. That doesn't jive too well with many of us. Also, with regards to the Legends line, many of us simply don't buy into it.
I'll give you a prime example. I'm a "cured" Army Builder. I used to go nuts buying troopers. Not any more. When I started seeing clones in the Legends line for the SAME price as new figures when just the year prior they were a dollar less, well, I just wouldn't bring myself to buy any of the more expensive troopers when I was getting absolutely nothing more new for more of my money. And sorry, but the clone weapons locker just doesn't cut it. It's not worth a dollar more. Heck half the guns I wouldn't ever use.
If the price increased, et al are the beginning of the end for SW, I'm fine with it. I have an overwhelming majority of figures I've wanted and many I never expected to see in plastic.
Hasbro can feel free to blame us. But we truly are only a small part of it. Whatever the case, it's been a good run. I don't welcome the end when it comes, but I'll accept it and move on.