Quote Originally Posted by dirge View Post
I suspect the Insecticons (which, let's face it got almost no characterisation) would not sell all that well due to the less realistic alt modes. Lots of kids loved Hound or Smokescreen because they were recogniseable cars. Even if neither really got the same level of characterisation as say Bumblebee or Grimlock. Similarly, the Dinobots aside from Grimlock & Swoop got little characterisation. Grimlock is the Dinobot everyone remembers.

As for a lack of Decepticons, I'm surprised we've seen neither Astrotrain or Blitzwing. Both would sell well & you could do wonders for those two at MP level complexity. I know I'd snap both up!
I think that the Insecticons, like the rest of the Dinobots would sell quite well actually. Third Party companies like Fans Toys have released their versions of both teams and some command crazy prices on the aftermarket. Fans Toys have even gone as far as releasing select Dinobots in G2 and Diaclone colours. The market is definitely there.

Quote Originally Posted by dirge View Post
Perhaps partly a lack of repaint opportunities (the Battlechargers spring to mind, but they're hardly prominent) and a lack of memorable characters. Aside from Hot Rod/Rodimus, Magnus, Grimlock, Galvatron & Cyclonus who really got much attention in the media? A lack of a Galvatron is surprising, but I'm not surprised we've yet to see a MP Blurr. The 1986 Decepticons, BTW, were actually very sparse once you take out the combiner teams.

Personally, I'd LOVE Masterpiece Stunticons & Aerialbots (also appeared in season 2 of the cartoon, so from a character POV I lump them into 1985) and would bite your hand off for a Masterpiece Pipes... but Pipes was hardly prominent and I know he'd sell poorly. Even if I'd probably buy two
I dont think TT care about repaints anymore. Why? The LAM masterpieces have very limited repaints, but we've had 7 released so far. So there's all of that money and time invested in figures you can probably only get 1 figure out of. Touching back on the previous third party point, there are companies out there killing TT for '86 movie MP releases.