I agree that the savings won't be passed down to us, but it may be their way of keeping the price of the figure from skyrocketing.
I think the best middle ground would be the Red Snapper scenario. That was technically a Power Pose figure, but had bare minimum articulation that it would need. Other than the torso pivot, I loved the figure.
So if they made HB 2.0 PP but still with fully articulated arms, legs, head, and a swivel waist, I would be totally okay with that. So long as the torso and midsection aren't permanently turned in an awkward position like Red Snapper.
And even if it's a fully articulated release, I don't think it needs the ability to hold a figure like the AoU version.