Ditto. I have always loved the version with front gear boxes. I know the ANH ship looked like that, but the first movie I saw was ESB, and it looks so rear-end-heavy without the front boxes, while also having only one strut up front compared to 4 in the back. How does logic not suggest that the later version makes more sense? I'll get this, and still hope that Bandai later comes out with a later version that has the extra gear boxes. I'd even rip them off my FM kit if necessary to add. About the price, I see this as an oddity. So far, Bandai prices have been so close to comparable FM kits--almost exactly. So maybe the calls on the boards begging for this kit from Bandai, combined with the lighting, etc., made Bandai think this would work (and it will to some degree--shall we say a "limited" way). Anyway, if we get an ESB kit with no lighting or whatever to get it down to the FM price, I'm not sure how many I'll get. I got 3 FM kits with the problems (problems to me) with mandible, curvature, and several other issues. Might need an extra room addition.
Mike Todd