Ultimately, for good or bad in today's climate, any new S production from either MTH or Lionel will likely be based on products previously cataloged in O.
Both companies have their existing databases that can be rescaled, modified for S conditions and sent off to the toolmaker. I'm convinced that's where they will draw from, whether or not an individual, group or large random sample wants a particular item next on the production line.
I don't believe either company will go outside of their databases readily.
Rusty