I didn't expect to care much about a packaging variation myself, since my carded collection has maybe 60 figures in it, but I've decided that the AT-AT driver may be my all time favorite figure when this line is said and done 12 years from now, and dang nabbit, I want the silly silver cardback version to give to my grandkids so they can hock it for $2.77 in 2036.
That, my friends, was a terrible run-on sentence. My apologies to any english/grammar teachers in the group.

I do have an extra 400 Fett, the ESB version. I picked up both versions, and decided to only keep one.
$150.00 plus shipping, probably another 13-15.00

PM me if interested-

All gone-

Dan

I think the retailers are becoming a much bigger part of the problem. They have become accustomed to being able to tell the companies producing the product they sell when, where, and how much to make. I think Hasbro has gone too far in allowing the big box retailers to determine product line, price point targets, product size, and quantities. It's like Hasbro has become a subsidiary of Target/Walmart, and only does what they want.

They have Hasbro direct now. I picked up my brother in laws voice activated R2 there, and was very happy with the site and the speed of shipping. It seems like this is a good outlet for ships, maybe playsets, who knows what else. It simply gives Hasbro a venue to provide product without bending over for everything Target and Walmart want to tell them to do (and not to do). They also have other online etailers eager to sell anything they can get their hands on, and I think these companies tend to be a bit more in touch with collector interests.

I guess my point here is that the retailers seem to be hurting hasbro- they refuse to carry large items like playsets and large ships, they aren't putting basic figure product on the shelves, and when they do they are pricing it so it doesn't move. So as a producer of toys, they should be exploring their other options for getting their products to their customers.

I'll be looking for a pilot, grunt, bacara, and maybe a destroyer droid.    That is some great cardboard... 

I hear that Jesse-

I went in to 2006 having had just about enough of 3 and 3/4 for a while. The first wave solidified that position. But AT-At drivers, General Veers, cool clones, and great packaging have me on the fence. For me the deal breaker is going to be price and availability. Keep them around $6.00 and generally available, and I will probably go back and even get the Carkoon goons to have a full set like the 2004 OTC.

That # 41 clone looks a darn purdy on this new card- and I already have all the loose ones I need...

(that sound you now hear is me on the slippery slope to carded collecting again)

AAAAAAAAG!

The price increases are a serious deterrent to me personally. I went in to 2006 burnt out on 3 3/4 due to the massive push of figures for ROTS and the daunting list of product for 2006. I saw that Carkoon wave and laughed, thinking I would save a bundle by not buying garbage like that. Then the Hoth and Geonosis waves hit, the prices went down, and I found myself really like the Saga line. The figures had gotten better, the packaging is excellent, and holds up better for collecting carded.  I even began entertaining notions of going back and picking up carkoon to have a full set carded like the OTC line.

But 6.99 and difficulty finding product will kill that notion faster than a 3 foot drunk in a teddy bear costume can kill a well trained, genetically engineered soldier (oh wait, R2 is the drinker, never mind).

I have cases on order as well, and if those come through without a hitch, I may go back and fill in the few holes. But if the cases get cancelled, and my only option is 7.00 and running all over town, I will go back to being burnt out in a hurry.
I have 7 saga AT-AT drivers, and 4 Veers. I did not, and would not, buy them at 6.99. The last one was 6.63, and that will be the last one I buy at that price as well. Seven dollar figures kills the army-builder spirit in me.

Time to practice outrunning hotwheel dealers, tripping kids, and knocking over grandma's-  VOTC sandtrooper? WOOHOOOO!  (Please don't paint him like he's been cleaning up elephants at the circus)

Great post R5Don4!

Those medicom troopers do look great. I have never seen one in person.

Great job on 1G-88's legs too-

And now that you show Hasbro's ultimate 12 inch vader vs Medicom and Marmit, well, I think I'll bury mine a little deeper in the box.