The plastic is not so much "cheap" as it is very soft (it's been my experience that "cheap" plastic is actually very brittle and is easily broken). Hasbro has been using softer plastic for the hands and lower arms of Joes for a few years now (even the repros of the originals) to alleviate the "broken thumb" syndrome... my assumption is that the tiny hands and fingers of the 25th Anni figures (which are actually proportional in relation to the rest of the figure for a change) bend very easily because of their thin-ness. You can get these guys to hold stuff but it's sometimes a bit of a challenge, especially if they are bare-handed instead of gloved.Based on photos like this I'd definitely say these are figures than can be taken out of their packages:
I haven't opened mine yet (I will when I get the 5-packs) but it sounds like they use the softer, more malleable plastic of Hasbro's current SW figures. It isn't perfect but at least you have a thumb that can bend instead of just break off like with the older Joes. No decomposing O-rings or broken crotches to worry about either.
Here's a few quick shots of the 25th Anni Cobra Commander and Cobra Officer with the DTC H.I.S.S.
