I guess I am happy with "cheap junk" Please keep making all the cheap junk you want, Menards. Folks that don't like it have plenty of choices for over-priced junk.
Seriously, though, when it comes to the track, it doesn't bother me at all to have to pinch the rails with a pair of pliers if it means paying 1/3 the going rate for brand new track. I've paid more for well-tarnished used track. Now, if you are the sort that wants hand laid track anyway, why would you ever even look at using "O" profile, tubular track?
I'm sure a bit more expense in manufacturing could make the product better, but honestly, I would rather have the low cost option stay as low cost as possible and take a few extra minutes to pinch the rails tight or fiddle with the couplers on a boxcar to get them working smoothly. Leave the expensive choices to folks that want the "100% accurate" rolling stock, or the "flawless operation" of the big names. There is plenty of room in the hobby for all sorts of options and the wonderful thing about capitalism is that no one can force you to buy a product you don't want to. There are plenty of folks with cash to spare in the hobby, but there just might be a lot more people into O gauge if it didn't cost so **** much for 10 inches of steel and card stock.
JGL
"Howard Roark laughed." - AR
