Lionel will run into a brick wall down the road. Check out some of their recent prices (Built to order) items, the O gauge runners that we meet with just shake their heads and laugh. All these new electronics are great, let’s see in 5-10 years if they still work, or if you can get replacement parts (like some of MTH - RailKing) electronic boards that are lost to time.
If you want new generations to get interested in the hobby some manufacturers are moving in the wrong direction.
Lionel has had issues in the past and were saved at least 3 times.
The old Lionel postwar diesels / steam engines will still be running 50 years from now. That won’t be the case for sure with for all the new electronic parts / controls used these days.
one step forward - two steps back
