Masterpieces - are we spoiled?

[dirge]

I'm in the unsatisfied camp. My enthusiasm for the line is actually waning.

Barring left field repaints ( Anime + / Diaclone ) and off chops exclusives (Atmos Lebron Screeching Duck MP10) TT have been moving at a glacial pace as far as core releases go over the last 17 years. You want to finish your '84 & '85 cast? Here, have another Optimus. Is your Grimlock feeling lonely? I've got a new Bumblebee that'll fix that etc etc

You raise a valid point. The G1 characters have certainly slowed down and yes, we don't need 47 Optimus Prime MPs. I'd much rather an obscure character like Skids than 3 Optimus Primes...

My pace of collecting has slowed, and really I'm only waiting for certain things I'm interested in (remaining cars & minibots, Astrotrain & Blitzwing - though any 1984-85 cartoon character I'll probably grab).

Fast forward to today and the line does not give me as much joy. Part of that is redoing characters that already had fine representations (Prime, Bumblebee etc) rather than tackling new characters. Part of that is the reduced number of G1 releases. Then you have more significant QC issues. And finally the prices have ramped up substantially, partly driven by the increased number of accessories that I don't have any interest for.

Yes I'll admit the accessories don't interest me either. That said, I still feel a $200 Hound with a bunch of random accessory crap (maybe it appeals more to the Japanese collector mindset? I don't know?) is a better deal than ... well almost every Beast Machines toy back in that era. Very few of which satisfied me for the price I paid. Hound is expensive but I am satisfied. It's a poseable G1 Hound that appeals to the nostalgic in me.