@Sunrise Special posted:The LC 2.0 products are way overpriced for what you're getting, The Imperial line could offer so much bang for the buck! Some extra details of the Imperial line with some creativity is long overdue for this MTH fan! Lionel is running the show...the team that they've employed are truly coming up with some fun ideas! The scale ACME tunnel paint tank car, the AEC set are some simple examples! The latest MTH Christmas and Halloween offerings are in my opinion an extremely lazy attempt for a growing section of the hobby! Not saying its all bad...but most if it is meh! There's a reason why Lionel has dedicated so many pages to this segment! They get it! Hoping MTH takes notice. Soon! Thanks for your reply! Only time will tell!!! All the best!
Sunrise
In the abstract, LC+2.0 seem overpriced but with no competition from K-Line or Williams/WBB and minimal from MTH, they can price as they want. Also, consider this: Lionel's MSRP on Traditional sized locomotives in 2002 when I got into this hobby was $350 - $450. That equates to $600 - $800 in today's depreciated dollars. LC+2 provides better features than the 20+ y/o TMCC yet is priced about the same (better lighting, 4 chuffs).
I've equated MTH and Lionel as follows:
- Premier = Legacy
- Imperial = Lionmaster
- Rail King (not Imperial) = LionChief Plus 2.0, previously LC+, previously Traditional w/TMCC
- Rugged Rails = LionChief
I agree with you 100% that Rail King provided more bang for the buck, especially the Imperial line. That's why I added DCS and 5 Rail King Imperial engines a year or two before Mike Wolf's retirement. At the time, Rail King was competing with LC+ and I saw no comparison (although I appreciate the simplicity of LC+). I wonder, though, if Rail King Imperial locos were such great bangs for the buck because they didn't generate enough profits.
