David, I was not even thinking about you when I wrote my above post. Nor do I have any specific agenda. And I have made comments where I either disagree or don't understanding something about Lionel product or their decisions. For example with the pricing of the traditional rolling stock, which is almost on par with the scale rolling stock, yet the traditional items are far less costly to produce.
For me, it comes to a point where I can make posts about it, or let my "wallet doing the talking." I haven't bought a brand new separate sale piece of Lionel rolling stock in over 4 years because of the higher prices. Lionel is free to do as they wish, or see fit, just as I am free to either purchase or not purchase their products. And I've said this before. I do think Lionel comes in for more criticism, because they are the big name in this 3-rail hobby.
There are some things you post David, where I agree with you, such as the problems with the various companies shipping schedules. They are inviting criticism with the inaccuracies and lack of communication. As you have pointed out elsewhere, Scott Mann at least communicates with his customers about this. Built to order: They're ALL doing it. 3rd Rail calls it "reservations," but it's still the same thing outside of Lionel having a dealer network that can order as they see fit.
You can agree or disagree... it won't change anything. Even with the rest of the product line, Lionel is closely monitoring production numbers. Which is why we occasionally see shortages of track or accessories... normal stock items. But it's not just Lionel, nor limited to the 3-rail train world.
And I also agree with you that there is a glut of product available. But the size of the market is shrinking, which plays into that. And then the question you have raised, how many trains can one person have? Well, that's not for me to answer, but the ramifications of that do play into both the new product and secondary markets.
Every indication is still the traditional O-gauge line is the bulk of the 3-rail customer base. Yet the scale market is still important for Lionel - as they themselves have said. The scale market is smaller, but with a more active, consistent spending customer. The traditional market tends to be more seasonal. So what. It's just the reality of business.
Just as much as there will NEVER EVER be the variety in scale 3-rail O as there is in either HO or N scales. No amount of wish lists or grumbling with change this. So every scale has its' advantages and drawbacks.
If I do have any agenda I suppose it would that people should enjoy the hobby more. Which by reading a good many posts here, I obviously am not the only one who wonders about this. Despite what is not made, there is more than enough that has been made.
Agenda... that's kind of funny. I've never even thought of you as having an agenda. You're a smart guy David. If anything I've thought of you as bit like a dog who has a bone in its' mouth and it is not letting go of it... at least without a good fight. But until you, I or anyone else owns a train company or a model train forum, we're most likely not changing anything. We can make suggestions, as you did with the Buy/Sell forum here - and there was a change. But for the majority of the time, only real decision we really have as consumers, is whether we are going to buy, or not.
