I don't think the lack of articulation will kill this wave or this line. IF the sculpts are really good, I think you can still have a successful wave in terms of volume and sales. I look to the POTJ line as an example. Great sculps, good variety, not a ton of articulation, yet the POTJ line I believe was one of the more successful lines of the modern era, and a personal favorite. I do agree that it signals that Hasbro is going to push to milk as much money out of the line with as little RnD as possible. This means we may have very good figures, but also figures that could have been so much more (like the Tactical Ops Trooper). Again, if the sculpts are very good though, that may compenstate for the lack of articulation. In addition, if the lack of articulation means a higher quality figure that doesn't break as has been discussed in another thread here, that may not be a bad deal either. I just wish that Hasbro would gets its act together and put out more figures like the Obi Wan Pilot that are both GREAT sculps with GREAT articulation that don't break!
For this line, I'll buy the Gonk, the Veers, the AT AT Driver (at least 2), Rebel Commander, Reikien, and the Snowtrooper officer. That alone shows that wave will probably be successful because I'm skipping most of the first wave except for Leia and Bib, and consider myself to casual collector once again coming off the movie, buying only themes and figures I really like or want. This wave fits into a theme so I'll get more of it.