I'm not one of those "our country should have it first" fans...I believe in equal distribution for all, though unfortunately because of circumstances beyond our control, it isn't really feasible in some areas. However, it does appear that in unifying the "brand" release time frames between

and

are shrinking, and will very soon pretty much be simultaneous, which I really think is a good thing. But as efficient

seemingly is, it looks like they may even get their releases out faster than

at some point. It will be interesting to revisit this a year later and see where we are. I know the two companies may not release things in the same order, but just one case in point..
For PotP -Leader Optimal Optimus was supposedly released at the end of August in Japan, he is just starting to show up in some areas (Canada evidently), but still not in the United States. It seems more that this will be a simultaneous release than anything else.
Often when Takara would release their own product, if Hasbro ever decided to use it, it would come much later, and vice versa. i also believe its because of unification that many are getting "second chances" to find PotP figures that were previously very difficult to find. I guess there are some good things to come of this, again, it will be interesting to reevaluate a year form now, when we are most of the way through Siege, and see how things are going
Bucket/Want List: Botcon 2016 Customization Class Ratchet (G2 Deco), or Customization Class Ratchet (Marvel Comics Deco) **would also be willing to pay for an Unpainted Botcon 2016 Ratchet, TT Legends Fortress Head (only) with working Electronics
Wish List of Modern Combiners: Road Caesar, Monstructor & Dinoking (proper size to fiction), Landcross, Guard City, Battle Gaia, & G2 Defensor. Wish List of Titans:Metrotitan,Majin Zarak