I think the Sideshow production value is actually about the same as it's always been, but with a few surprisingly good exceptions like the Indy sculpt and the older Jedi Luke. What I think is really happening the last three years is that Hot Toys has so totally blown the competition out of the water with their abitlity raise the bar with each new figure, especially in head sculpts that Sideshow's lack of advancement makes them appear to be moving backward in quality when they were the top of the game once upon a time. Asian cultures, in this case Hot Toys Chinese culture, are just better at detail when they really want to impress. Did you see the Olympic opening ceremonies for Pete's sake. Damn! Their quality control is about personal pride and public honor. We don't have that much in the U.S. In the states, it's all about the bottom line $$$. Hot Toys cares first about the quality, then they get the money. Sideshow thinks of the money, then how little they have to put into it to make money. Eventually, SS lack of quality will lead to lack of money, and they will Chapter 11. And in this American economy...
