On the customs issue, I'm sort of against the selling of customs myself... not to the point that I dislike people who do it (at least generally now, since it's much more common), as that's silly because I have a lot of friends who do, but I my thoughts on that rest in my (much more involved) past in that aspect of the hobby... When selling them was a new idea, FFURG was pretty against it (before there was a site even). People who started that generally were people that intentionally didn't share their methods and things.
They would post a custom, questions would get asked, but if you did anything but praise it they were usually combative over that. Few would actually say, "Well I did _____", to share with you how they made it... It was a frustration at the time because basically people used customizing discussion forums as a way to shill their stuff, and not as a way to expand/enjoy the hobby with others.
Now though it's more common and I've noticed less of the secretive guys out there because they're largely shot down anyway when they try to be that way since someone somewhere knows how they did it and is usually happy to share.
I saw other dickish stuff done too though... FFURG kept a card template vault that was grossly misused, and that was very disappointing as well.
Back to the repro thing... Well, I'm probably in the camp that isn't as in favor of it, but moreso if it's something that's easily obtainable... Yakface is easily obtainable, and anyone who's not buying it because "I can't find one" is full of ****. Same as Blue Snags. You're not buying one because you can't afford it, or because you've made the decision that you won't pay that much for it. That's on you then and I don't think you really need it then.
At the same time, Rocket Fett for instance, is pretty unobtainable not even due to price as much as due to scarcity. It's like double telescoping Ben/Vader...
I'm not a huge fan of repro's then unless they're made very obviously distinct from the real deal (IE: a non-removable stamp or whatnot). Hasbro's repro of it is a pretty fine example to me, of what's acceptable. It didn't impact the rarity, or desire to own the original. I'm ok with that ultimately.
I'm much more annoyed by guys who repro vintage weapons then... I prefer original weapons. Without them, to me, they're not original then. It's like restoring a 1940 Ford, and painting it some 2002 Subaru color you like... You basically ruined it in my eyes, unless you made other mods like adding modern A/C, modern stearing, a modern engine/transmission and so on.
That's just me though... Ultimately I don't care, and Vintage is something I rarely chat up others about. I like talking about the modern line and stuff, but Vintage I'm usually more of an introvert with that hobby I guess. Part of it is because there is some vintage snobbery I just don't appreciate, but I've always sort of been just into doing my own thing with Vintage and not getting into a dick measuring contest with other people's collections. The hobby is full of a lot of that. Nice guys too (Though that DSJ is a real jerkoff!
), but lots of people pounding their chest at each other I've noticed too.
