Keep in mind that one of the reasons the Transformers toys are not that much more expensive than Gen1 toys 28 years ago is that most designs now are developed with the intention of reusing it as much as possible. Not just different characters or powerup redecos, but also store exclusive redecos. Very few TFs toys these days are released just once (if a line hasn't been axed).
Sure, we might have 6 toys from the TFPrime RID Deluxe Bumblebee mould (Hasbro regular, Hasbro Shadow, Hasbro Energon, Hasbro Hotshot, Takara Terrorcon, Takara Regular), but if they only restricted themselves to one Bumblebee (and every other mould the same) the toys would be 2-3 times higher in price, and a smaller range overall.
I can see the frustration of having multiple toys of the one character when we should be having new character toys, but I think at the moment the best we can get are modified moulds like Sandstorm and this Ultra Magnus. There will be a limit of unique moulds each series, and its up to the designers to squeeze out as many redecos and characters as they can.
As for multiple sizes of the one character - I like the advantage of having a choice if you have different budgets... and I believe that's what Hasbro is aiming at. Catering for newer fans and younger kids with simpler, cheaper figures, and then the more complex expensive ones for the older kids or established fans.
I like the way the smaller size classes is better in scale (and more playable to the kiddies), than the larger sizes. And with TFPrime, we actually have the entire main cast in those smaller size classes, without costing a fortune just to collect the cast.
