I reckon if they did re-release Hound that they would probably use better quality plastic. This sort of reminds me of MP3, as that toy also had rather fragile plastic, but every subsequent use of that core mould (i.e. every MP Seeker since) has used superior plastic which improved the toy. Even on Hasbro's MP3, as well as MP6 and MP7. And even MP11 onwards is still based on the same core mould (albeit retooled).

I grabbed Hasbro's MP3 as soon as I saw it at Toys R Us and I've since sold my Takara MP3. Hasbro's MP3 also had more G1 accurate colours. Aah, the days when Hasbro and Takara did different stuff. :/