I think, Wetaholic, that it's not really so weird that the LotR line ended, before the Narnia and Kong started selling. I imagine that Sideshow, knowing the LotR license was ending, and when, had a view of securing the employment of their employees, and, having to protect the business, had to find an alternative. They must have instigated a long term plan to replace a huge profitable line with, either another, or several smaller ones. They would have had to work hard, negotiating, legalities, contracts meetings, the usual schmo, laying a good relationship. Having the money to secure Star Wars, Narnia, Kong as well as the several other lines they add to, is not cheap. The timing of when one ends and starts can't always be ideal. This option is forfeit, to doing justice to the partnerships and end product, produced to standards. Small loss. The point being, they were able to, not only cover the hole that ending LotR has caused, but extend their status and longevity, thus solving numerous problems and concerns.
The ability for them to produce the figures, that we are now no longer to likely see, is an unfortunate casualty of, not so much not having the resources, as to perhaps, commiting themselves to not letting a process be short cutted. Huh? I mean they would rather do the right thing with each piece than race them through. Time ran out. Nothing can be done.
I can see how you wouldn't be too fond of supporting a company that might have disrespected you. That isn't professional. Still, as you say, I think we all need to see items in the flesh before making purchases. I once purchased on face value from Sideshow. Some recent disappointments, amongst other things, have caused me to review my patterns. I am hoping the energies that Sideshow are now putting into the Star Wars line, understandably, bear fruit, enough so that Sideshow don't over extend themselves, and that they are able to bring all the procedures that worked so well in the past up to par. As long as they stay human driven, than profit driven, they have my support as a collector.
I wonder why people tend to criticise Sideshow moreso than Weta. That's the way it seems to me. They aren't one and the same. Maybe people use the name 'Sideshow', where in many instances, 'Weta' would be the appropriate word.
