Scott
I think they see the writing on the wall. If they want MTH Tinplate they need to buy it. When MTH stopped making it, before the retirement announcement, I would always hear guys talking about MTH will make it again eventually. Well now no one will be. I don't see Lionel making any tinplate. Unless someone buys the MTH tooling I think we've seen the last of new tinplate, unfortunately. The secondary market though will always be there.
I am lucky that I was very selective on what I wanted and I got some nice pieces that make me happy.