I don't mind legends sometimes, some of them are really desirable figures obviously since the Shocktrooper, battledroids (despite their suckiness), and the AOTC Grunts are all pretty popular. But Hasbro is indeed out of the loop on this one regardless of their numbers. This is a prime case of the plan not matching the execution, and Hasbro has its head clearly in the sand on the matter.
Legends DOES interfere with the basic line... In WM's case (where I see legends mounting up), it's simply a matter of pegspace, and really relates nothing to the different SKU's. Without space on the pegs for new basics the Legends line takes over, and it seems to be on WM's heavier shipping list while the basic line gets less. Why that is, I have no clue, but that is how it seems to be near me. It happened at certain stores last year with Greatest Hits too... So it's not new, it just sucks.
About the 06 stuff shipping into 07... I think I understand Hasbro's logic there. they're trying to avoid the problems of the past where the "last wave" syndrome took over and people were up in arms over not finding many of the last figures they wanted.
To me, I don't mind the strategy but Hasbro has to fine tune that... Maybe that's a good question to ask then? If they've learned how to fine tune things so last year product doesn't overwhelm next year product.
Obviously I have as much Saga2 stuff as any of you do... Tons of Jerjerrods, tons of final wave figures (though army builders in general are pretty much gone, thank god), and so on. I think Saga2 shipments into '07 needed to really cease at a specific point regardless of reordering and Hasbro needed to micromanage that a little better... It's obviously hurt '07 product, no doubt. But at the same time I liked that opportunity to buy multiple Kashyyyk troopers, Appo's, and the like. I didn't get hardly any Wookiee Heavy Gunners in late '05 and that was certainly frustrating to me... Most I was lucky to see once at K-Mart of all places, and never anywhere else. So I get the strategy but the execution was bungled.