I hit send to quick...
There are good things too...
Lionel's decision to continue to support ERR!!!
That move successfully finished MTH in my basement. I regularly upgrade older Williams and 3rd rail brass and give MTH "proto-echtomys" . This allowed me options that MTH refused by not offering any parts. This effectively gave Lionel all of my business as now not only do I convert to Lionel, I only look for new Lionel engines.
BILL... I'm not really focusing on the specifics of the announcement here. Just the trend and how I hope the path leads to better things. TRANSITORY is a requirement for me though. The word obsolete is scary. Maybe a more defined announcement and explanation is needed. Laying out of the overall plan. And maybe that's out there and I just missed it. Frankly, I see lots of confusion and a detailed OGR article covering the history (with dates) and future plans would help Lionel customers and be a winner for OGR?
Now... to me... and this is just to me Bill... I have friends in O scale 2 rail and HO. Their ability to buy any company's equipment and have a drop in option that is pretty standard is where the advantage is.