The astromech is a perfect pack-in since you either want Mace's JSF or you don't and if you don't, it's not like you're gonna run out and pick up the astromech repaint.

Not sure about that, there's hardcore astromech fans out there. I'm not one of them, besides BAD's, the last astromech I got was in that Luke-R2 comic pack a few years back.

Yeah, it makes sense as an exclusive pack-in.

The change up to this year, adding bounty hunters, shows they might mix things up more. Considering how dull the assortments were on the previous red Legacy Cards (which didn't even have the old battle droid 2 pack), things are looking slightly more interesting.

I recall reading that they were put the Legacy EU Spacetrooper in Legends next year. Pretty obscure choice for something aimed at kiddies. Not that they wouldn't want it, but it's hardly a proven hit with them since it barely appeared in stores (i never saw one) and collectors and scalpers scooped them up.

Does anyone know, which sculpt the R2 that comes with this set uses?

IIRCC, someone said that Hasbro said it will be a Build A Droid version.

I got Yoda and Oddball via ebay auctions for less than $2 each. No packages, all accessories, including cards. That's Yoda is pretty darn good. Oddball still has the sitting issue, and for a pilot figure...that's irritating. Nothing for him to fly anyway.

I thought the new "collector focused" line mostly ended the backgrounders anyway.  (Or it just seems that way because there's no "new" backgrounders, just redos at the moment.)

Yeah, when they started making ROTS concept Anakin and Ki Adi-Mundi (a good figure, but an odd choice), you know they were running short of Prequel Hero types. Those figures (and the more praised McQuarries/Johnston) arguably took away new tooling that could've been applied to actual movie characters. In that regard, the realistic Clone Wars figures are going to as well. Which is all reasonable, because a lot of the backgrounders we want have been slow movers compared to those concept figures and Hasbro has to balance things out.

But I hope they wouldn't "replace" concept figures, because I wouldn't mind a concept Gammorean Guard, maybe a few others.

I picked up a Chasm escape playset recently, incomplete. Forgot how bad these were.

I recall from prototype phots that the bunker set was originally to have opening door feature, makes more sense than a spring loaded tree branch.

The Endor sets was best simply because Kenner never made the bunker front.

 The Dagobah set never got made.

There was an Echo base backdrop dio planned to include a Hoth Leia, also got canned. Not sure pictures even exist.

Hardly ever buy new vehicles (last new one I got was that Homie's Spider Droid), but I got this snowspeeder today. Really neat vehicle. I wouldn't want it any smaller, but then I think they make current Leia figures too small. Carrie Fisher's real height be damned! 

I often forget there's a another version they released, the Princess Leia collection two-pack one with the cloth jacket.