Everything you’ve suggested is easily doable, I agree, but those in charge of 3.75” SW do not seem interested in seeing the line thrive. Hasbro recently renewed the license, so another company with comparable resources capitalizing on the lack of 3.75” SW seems unlikely anytime soon. Hasbro are also not McFarlane. They do not need their 3.75” SW to thrive. They should want it to, and it certainly could, but they have many licenses and seem willing to let the production of 3.75” figures slow to a trickle while simultaneously pumping out wave after wave of 6”, the scale that is more profitable per figure. Hasbro creating blanks for a small fraction of the SW collecting demographic sounds wonderful in theory (I would love them!) but seems about as likely as them producing Jorus C’baoth. 😆
As far as Hasbro missing out, there are many small companies and folks doing their best to provide completed figures and customizing resources to enthusiasts. So far, Hasbro have been uninterested in preventing them from doing so. One was offering entire waves of carded vintage style figures at a premium; others design and print/cast heads, armor, and accessories, etc. No one else is mass producing 3.75” super articulated SW figures though, and cannot imagine doing so would be cost effective for anyone but a decently sized company with considerable resources (and an official license to create the product).
@Tamer, JDeck: Correct. We cannot buy what is not available. Hasbro have effectively hamstrung the line with poor offerings/repacks (see Wave 1 TVC 2.0 still clogging at many locations...) and distribution and are saying to us “well TVC 3.75” collectors, you want new product don’t you? If you win the race you can have it. All you have to do is run with two slashed hamstrings and we’ll be happy to reward your dedication! Oh, by the way, we provided GoA 5” a tricycle and ten second head start and TBS 6” will be competing in a Lamborghini provided by us. Good luck!” I definitely support the line when I can, sign petitions, etc, but I think ultimately we’re just in an echo chamber in these collecting communities. Hasbro are going to do what they want, whatever their number crunchers and rodent overlords ordain; whatever they perceive “the market demands.”
Edit: About the upcoming GONK release- I actually find it to be one of the least offensive TVC offerings this year although it is more like a smart repack than a new figure. The existing GONK is a decent mold, and more droids are always great. I think it makes sense in that it appeases a few factions of the collecting community. The card looks great -for me, the best of the year- so that satisfies carded collectors and “release the original 96” folks. The droid has not been offered with this paint scheme and from promo shots it looks clean enough, so that likely satisfies OT purists and many loose collectors as well. I definitely want new figures as well, but if Hasbro are going to repack definitive molds, this might be one of the times they got it right. Commander Wolffe, on the other hand? Yikes.
