It does kinda make you sick doesn't it.
Especially considering how just a couple of ears ago you could get them for $6 or less.
Compare this with what Hasbro did to the Marvel Legends figures as well. When that line was under a different company you could get those figures for $8 plus a build a figure piece.
Hasbro has retailers selling they're Marvel Legends figs for $10-12 each and not all have a build a figure piece either.
If a smaller company can make these figures (and many much better sculpts at that) for less, and have retailers charge less, then why does it cost more if it's a Hasbro product? Again, quality isn't the issue. In fact previous lines are sometimes better quality than Hasbro.
Ball joints and such shouldn't really be an issue either. Standard figures like the clones should be VERY cheap to make. If it's just repaints or new head sculpts, then there is a vastly lower research and development cost to said figures.
I understand why Hasbro wants flashier packaging to show off the product as they believe it will sell better with collectors (and kids alike). However, that's an added cost in production that really isn't necessary. If the product is that good, buying a completely boxed figure/beast/ship instead of a window box should be cheaper.
While I know that means those of you who collect MIB wouldn't be able to see the actual product, take into account we collectors who open our stuff as well as the overwhelming majority of kids who open their stuff too. Simply, this change in packaging would reduce cost, reduce plastics (the window) and helping the environment in a small way, etc.
Also, by putting these in a non-windowed box, Hasbro can compress the area needed to bow these up. Why would they do that? Again simple, less box means less space taken on shelves per unit, which means either more space for duplicates of that toy or others in that toy line to be on the shelf at once. Judicious use of materials needs to be in practice here. It's not like Hasbro would use more paper materials. After all, the window boxes are "die-cut" boxes for the most part. Meaning there is a part cut away. Those pieces are discarded. It would be nice if those discarded pieces could at least find a way into the box for use as part of the inner packaging that keeps the toy in place, but we haven't seen that occur. So instead no diecut... Makes the box less delicate as well.