This applies to me of course but:
Display stand= don't need it unless it's MR-quality. All my Verse stuff is in a Detolf.
Packaging= all my packaging sits in my closet, unless it's a nice wooden display box that looks like it came from the show, I don't need it. (Was this ever actually promised?)
Plaque= All my MR plaques are in the boxes undisplayed.
No limited edition= fine by me... just means people won't have to fret over getting one before they run out or replacing it if it got stolen or broke.
Your points are certainly valid though. But for me personally, the whole picture as it was before means that I was paying for a lot of stuff I didn't need or want. The only thing I really regret losing are the wood grips but if Wakal's contact comes through, that shouldn't be a problem.
As for the plating- maybe it really did look like crap or maybe it was just too expensive to do on a limited run. Who knows but QMX. But I'm guessing that the cold-cast method will still look more natural than paint... and that it'll not be much (if at all) worse than the different ways people have been finishing their Sidkits (plated versions not included of course).
There is one thing I can add to the "excuses" debate. My GF works with supply-chain coordination and has direct experience of having stuff manufactured for a large international corporation. I can tell you that when a manufacturer of an item turns out to be problematic it can very well cause the types of delays and problems QMX have been giving as the reason for the first delay. Their big mistake was, as has been said before, announcing things way too soon. It's something they're gonna have to live with for a while and they do seem to be trying to set things on the right path, even if they'll never be able to please everyone.
If there are other deals out there that give a nice finished gun/weapon 1:1 replica for $150, maybe someone should start a thread, cause I ain't finding them! (Well, aside from a few MR items that seem to be hard to sell...) :lol
And to put this comment in check you need to look at the whole picture...
It's a 40% package reduction, not just a pistol reduction... They are giving a $100 price break and you are not only getting a dumbed down resin gun they have taken away the whole package surrounding the piece...
You are no longer getting the display stand
You are no longer getting the velvet lined Serenity packaging
You are no longer getting the metal plaque
You are no longer getting a limited edition item
What are the above items worth to the buyer? The stand has been suggested to be $20, the velvet lining metal plaque and limited edition investment potential have to be worth what another $40 to the average customer? That is hypothetically $60 of the $100 price break...
Now add in the no longer included Walnut grips that can be sourced for $45 dollars after market and all the sudden the $100 price reduction has been used and you are still left with a sub advertised dumbed down resin pistol missing the real metal plating and finish...
The $250 package was a good deal, the new $150 package is what it is, and IMO it's hardly comparative dollar to dollar with what was advertised... You are not really getting a price break on the gun it self, you are just getting a cheaper gun and the whole package surrounding it has be deducted...
