If by subsidize you mean these high prices will in effect allow Weta to sell other products at a lower profit margin, to coin an old phrase...."you are dreaming in technicolor". The high cost of these collectibles is based on the craftsmanship, production times/costs involved, and the licensing fee's involved [New LIne Cinema and John Howe, etc...]. Not to mention the extremely low ES's, which dramatically increase the production costs.
When Weta begins producing Hobbits statues and busts I can assure you they will charge whatever the market will bear for these item's, nothing more and nothing less. And this goes for everything else Weta, or any company produces and sells for that matter.
It looks really cool but I think I like Smaug better. I just wish I had the money...
