My take ( just based on experience of how decisions are made) lionel ran into issues with getting parts for the cab2, and in the meantime already had plans for the next generation of control base.
Could they have redesigned the cab2 base to use new components? Yes,but if planning for the new cab3 was advanced ( which I suspect it was), it quite honestly would make no sense to do parallel efforts from a corporate standpoint.
Outside the obvious, that both MTH and Lionel see the wifi connection as the future of control ( not saying I agree,fwiw) therevis something else you are missing. Lionel hasn't said what the components are that went obsolete w cab 2 but whatever they were, likely even had they redesigned around them, they would be hung up in the supply chain as well. My gut ( which is pretty big these days!) tells me that. We are talking custom stuff I would bet.
Just look at what MTH is going through with their production issues, their base is MIA as well.
I am not defending or condemning anyone,other than the fools that thought putting their eggs in one manufacturing basket was a smart thing,and there are plenty of them all across the board.
Me,I am gonna wire my layout for conventional block for now with an eye to adding DCS and Cab3 when they show up.I would bet if/when they show up they will be in limited supply, retailers who get them will charge msrp+ and others will do what is going on w cab2, get their hands on them and sell at crazy prices *shrug*. My slow rate of progress gives me a long term outlook on things.
