German posted:When a detail on a new model is wrong or missing, many here seem to describe the feature as not merely something they want to have but as something they need to have, as if their trains are going to be functioning in the real world. In a few cases it almost seems delusional. Without question this is a free country and we can want or request anything we desire, and many new features over the decades have given real increase in "play value", but it just seems as if some have replaced the joys this great hobby once brought them with the frustration of an unreachable goal.
Exactly.
What never fails to amaze me is that if a feature is not included, it becomes a "show stopper" for some folks. I remember a comment from someone about the MTH 60 ton boxcab diesel. The person said in effect that he really liked the boxcabs, but he wouldn't buy one because it didn't have smoke.
It seems the features are becoming more important than the locomotives themselves.
Rusty
