The hobby might have a better future if there were more starter sets available that are reliable, affordable, interesting, and promoting ongoing creativity in the hobby without relying excessively on expensive problematic gadgetry that will become obsolete.
Amen!
Mark in Oregon
I tend to be of two minds when it comest to electronics in trains. There are attatctions to both conventional and command with sound trains.
Let's not assume that yanking out the electronics is going to make a lower priced product.
The conventional Lionel O gauge 0-4-0 Shifters MSRP for $449.99.
The DCS MTH O gauge Imperial 0-6-0's MSRP for $399.95.
Both locomotives are scale proportioned, but frankly, the MTH 0-6-0 is a much better looking locomotive.
Now I now full well "street price" is less, yadaa, yadaa, yadaa... But the average consumer is most likely going to get his first impression of an item out of a catalog, be it hard copy or on line.
Lionel had indicated the possibility of open stock basic starter sets in S that were also supposed to be made in the US. I was curious to see how they'd turn out. Given the problems recently with the contractor going bankrupt, the starter sets seem unlikely for the present time.
rusty
