Some random additional thoughts to you guys' random additional thoughts...
-Lando mentioned them blowing smoke on the VOTC, and while I'm not as confident as he is, part of me is in total agreement with him. I can't possibly see a logic as to "why" with their attitude. I wonder if it isn't just them saying that to make people THINK the VOTC will never see the light of day again and they'll buy them up rather than skip them hoping for a re-release.
Perhaps they know their market better than they let on?
-Scott's point about the Cantina aliens (or someone) mixed into the center of OTC would've alleviated some oof the "pain" we're inevitably feeling with the rampant repacks. Still, I'm even going to nab SOME of the repacks so it isn't like they're not appealing on some level (I was all set for a huge break till I saw the Gammorrean and Tusken).
-About kids vs. collectors... I don't know how much is BS. I stick by the notion that they are a factor, just not nearly the one Hasbro makes them out to be. I often wonder just how much research they do? Besides focus groups which aren't accurate anyway, I just don't see what they're out there pounding the pavement doing... I think what data they use is maybe even outdated.
Oh well...
Things are what they are right now. I'm really only disappointed about Comic-Con on one aspect (even with th e crappy Cantina set). The aspect of that ONE ******* (By the way, you can say "ass" Lando
) and how he talked to Matt and basically treated collectors like crap inadvertantly. I found that disrespectful and a plain black mark on the company overall because it's his job to actually be cordial at those shows.
In the end, despite their data, it is the collectors who carry the line's momentum every NON-Movie year, which outweigh the movie ones by a long-shot.
Maybe it's the guy that designed the Fleet Trooper? Perhaps he's bitter?