I just bought this in LA and I can confirm that it does indeed suck and/or blow. The packaging issues aside, the dealbreaker for me here is that the base is a vacuum-formed thin and flimsy plastic. The actual Lars igloo element is pretty good-- not super-thick, but it feels like it might make a reasonable toy. There's a table under the igloo that's the same color as Beru's blue milk accessories (which were NOT included) and is made from a similar feeling plastic as those accessories.
I feel like the base desert component will, over time, be one of the most broken items in collections. It really doesn't feel sturdy at all, and I would say it feels like a Halloween costume mask-- you know the kind, with the crappy piece of elastic on it.
I can safely say-- without exaggeration-- with the exception of MAYBE the metal hilt/plastic blade lightsabers-- this may be the flimsiest feeling toy Kenner or Hasbro produced in the modern line. I'd say it seemed barely worth the $49.99 on paper, but now that I have it in my hands, I can say if you're on the fence, don't bother. Although it may be worth it if you don't have the figures or vaporator.
Oh, and the Womp Rat is a single-piece PVC figure with no articulation. Owen and Beru have paint jobs about a half a notch below their original releases. The Sandtrooper is really just fine, but is missing his Saga/Saga Legends accessories.
I know a lot of people say "don't wait for clearance," but seriously, wait for clearance. Or coupons. I had some bonus store credit and even with a decent discount, I think I'd feel this is-- at best-- a $25-$30 piece. If they used a better plastic for the base, it'd be a good item at-- maybe-- $40ish.
I am now officially nervous to see how the Pit of Carkoon turns out.
