If Matell can put decent pinstripes on their 66 batmobiles, there is no reason hot toys can't. I bought their 1:50 batmobile and it looks great! Sorry, I refuse to believe hot toys can't. Funny good sales is considered bad.
Actualy, doing a die cast car model is a compleatly different production process, including the paint work and pinstripes, which I think are done by the "tempo/timpo" system...sorry if I got the technical word wrong...this is a much sharper way to "print" designs/sponsor names and logos than hand applied decals or template masking and painting. In Japan, the die cast did not sell very well...but you know what did?...the 1/18 BTTF Deloreans, thats why we got that one first.
Doing a big scale plastic gloss black body without imperfections and moving panels is a whole new ballgame, the usual problems are distortions and other assosiated problems that have to be taken care very carefuly in the preproduction stage to secure a very good product in the end, that means a lot of test and fit of molds and the interaction with moving panels like doors,hood or anything else.
I think Hot Toys tested the waters and wanted to carve in stone a position in the world of 1/6 and its ever increasing costs and final price for the consumer, look at what every new average figure is costing these days, over $200, Hot Toys surprice everyone when it began realesing 1/6 detailed machines like the 1989 Batmobile, DK Thumbler,the Delorean, etc...and even more when they setup those amazing Star Wars displays...but...like Icarus...sometimes flying to close to the sun can burn you, think Hot Toys felt that burn when EVERYONE expected that every prototype they show, will be produced, when in reality it only thrue purpuse was to be only that, a prototype/showpiece.
Unlike Mattel, which will have a huge output of its products and the price range is very different, Hot Toys will produce a specific amount and that will be it, also because as said before, the added shipping cost is something to be considered on how can affect final profit price.