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So I was out of the hobby for a very long time. What's drawing me into Transformers and mechs is the pure raw value factor here.
Hot Toys Valkyrie ( to be fair, I cherry picked a figure I would never get , but it is more representative of most of what HT is now releasing) has a few accessories. A sword, a thunder bolt, a few other things. But pretty spare IMHO for a 270 dollar figure. You have to essentially preorder now, maybe 12-15 months in advance, on the more desirable figures. And while you can find a dealer or two where you can avoid sales tax, it's tough to find a dealer who can do free shipping and no sales tax for just a single figure. Hence to get free shipping, you'll have to stretch out and buy two figures likely ( now hitting close to 600 dollars)
Or, for just looking at the potential opportunity cost, I could go get a Jinbao oversize Devastator. Six robots, very hefty and robust, that are clearly well made high level Transformers. If you do the upgrade kit as well, it's looking like 220 ish or so total. ( Someone can correct me on that, I've kind of looked at a few site recommendations others have given me here plus AliExpress briefly)
So I'm not going to bag on the craftsmanship in a figure with a nice headsculpt and unique uniform, etc, etc, but the Devastator has a lot of complex engineering to it as well. For fun factor and play value and display value, I just don't see much of a contest here. Don't get me wrong, not all Transformers I see end up looking like raw values, but for the budget minded hobbyist, it's hard to ignore how cool and interesting and desirable that Transformers, some of them, can be here.
Would I get two Marvel Legends at a brick and mortar for 50 bucks plus tax at MSRP ( not that I'd do that, but as a hypothetical) or just spend that money on a cool Transformer ( albeit, maybe a "3rd Party") instead? No contest. I just ordered a mech last night and I'd get nowhere near the kind of design, engineering, versatility and value IMHO if I spent the money instead on a Hot Toys random Marvel figure. And I spent over a hundred bucks less and that does not include the shipping I would have had to pay as well.
Well guys, now you have another convert here. I got priced out of a brand that just stopped making more toys that actual guys would enjoy. I like big laser cannons and missile pods instead. I figure I can't be the only one. Just some thoughts.