@Tom Tee posted:Lionel, to support hobbyists? Lionel to garner goodwill?
In my opinion.
They no longer have to...no real competition...MTH, Weaver, Williams, Right-a-Way kind of kept them on their toes in years past. With MTH redeveloping, Bachman doing what Bachman does, Atlas slowing down and Sunset far above Lionel, Lionel can do what ever they want to. Lots of orange Kool-Aid.
Whenever there is any question of what anyone is doing in any business decisions, simply follow the dollar. No love to be lost. Loco Louie said it best when he quoted certain others.
In my experience the main way a company can make the big dollars is to sell new product.
“In my experience the main way a company can make the big dollars is to sell new product.” That all depends…..on the economy - and the new products being produced. Frankly, why does every manufacturer rehash existing products typically when the economy gets bad….MTH? As a example….in these situations it imperative for the manufacturer to keep the hobby alive. Providing parts for older loco’s.
I had a few atlantics…You couldn’t even get a smoke unit gasket..years ago.
