@RixTrack posted:You asked for my opinion. Here’s my opinion:
DCS has five years. After that it will be gone. There will not be enough volume to support it. Personally, I don’t care one way or the other. I’m new to O scale. Last year I was all set to buy MTH trains and then the announcement came. I’ve been in the manufacturing sector and understand what it means to wind down a business. MTH has an obligation to supply parts for their products for 48 - 60 months after production. After that period of time they are free to go their own way.
Atlas cannot save DCS. Atlas may not be able to save itself. In 15 years, if current attrition rates remain the same there will be 60% fewer people participating in this hobby. Lionel knows this, Mike W. knows this. They may tell you otherwise but the market is shrinking year over year.
This is my opinion and I stand by it but, I will not argue about it.
Well said from a neutral perspective. As for Ryan of Lionel: It’s safe to say that he has a better feel for where the O gauge market is right now and where it is going than 99% of OGR posters. If Ryan felt comfortable saying it in a public setting, it’s because he believes it to be true.
