You definitely make valid points, Rated X. I mean if you really want to get down to it, the normal prices paid for what are basically plastic toys can be questionable. One could present points of argument like quality of construction, uniqueness or intricacy of design, and so on and so forth but it all comes down to subjective views on an item's worth.
Exclusives...they're a mixed bag for me. Like I posted earlier, while I'd love to have the Gentei figures, I don't want them enough to pay 5 times the price for a figure that has been painted differently or cast using different types of plastic.
However, at the same time, there are molds that I really like and I am seeking to buy every incarnation of figures from that mold. I've recently finished achieving my goal of getting RiD/Car Robots Landfill/Build King as well as the yellow Wal Mart exclusive and the Universe "Constructicon Devastator" Target exclusive. I paid retail pricing for Build King, less for the WM exclusive, and about 25% more for the Target exclusive. Objectively, aside from colour, having more than one set is redundant so buying more than one incarnation could be seen as wasting money. However, my enjoyment of the mold justifies for me buying all 3 sets. It's not quantifiable. The aesthetics appeal to me(I love chunky clunky robots), I really appreciate the design concept of the central hub component, the construction vehicle theme taps into my G1 Devastator fandom, and so on.
Looking at Ghost Starscream, Electro Disruptor Ligier, Crystal Convoy, and other such figures, I don't have similar levels of "reasons to buy" so I won't be forking over money for the figures but I can see why others would buy them.
If a transparent plastic version of Landfill/Build King was made, you better believe I'd be all over it.
Now regarding the point about being able to use a mold to create figures of various plastic compositions as long the mold exists, that's true, but again, these Gentei figures aren't produced at the same quantities as normal retail figures nor are they offered at the retail level. Fundamentally, they're the same figure but due to the limited number made, producers increase the price and people pay that price because they want the product.
Someone
could steal the mold and make their own to sell at a low cost but it's unlikely to happen. If a mold was taken, I doubt that someone who would steal a mold for the purposes of selling their own product would be benevolent enough to sell something like a perfect Ghost Starscream at a cost near retail level. And I mean "perfect" in that not only does the thief have the original mold but they would also use the same quality metals and plastics in the manufacturing process and also have the same quality assurance for the production.
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