Well stated. What I find amusing is the continual flurry of postings from people who just assume MMP gives zero thought to any of this. As if reprinting BV is some genius business decision that only they have ever considered.
I do like the very good point made earlier in the thread, incidentally - the ASLSKs were designed specifically for entry into the game - and are a source of basic game components, including systems counters.
It would be wrong to simply assume that there is a whole lot of concern in the community about "growing the hobby." I don't care, frankly. I'm happy to connect with new players, and we've started some meet-ups here in Calgary. There's another one on Saturday and I plan on attending to get a game in. But, most of the local group have been playing for decades. There is some fresh blood, which is great, but if there wasn't it wouldn't bother me. I mean, the very big corporation I work for has little to no succession planning, why should I involve myself in same for a hobby?
I think if MMP has decided (I have no reason to believe they have) to simply get their money out of the existing ASL fan base while they can, they have every right to do so, and may probably have hit on the smart thing in the long run. But, as they say in the Army here, not my circus, not my monkeys.
You bring up a couple of interesting points. Hypothetically, speaking if MMP has the idea that the future growth of the ASL hobby is small to none, then the idea of
not investing capital in re-printing and stocking slower moving products does make sense. If the real ASL customer base is the same one that bought the original versions of BV, Yanks, WOA, FKAC, CD, HL, I get it. So, if the customer base for re-reprinted modules consists mainly of those who purchased the reprinted core module as replacements for their worn out counters (I've worn out two copies of BV) or to get counters with bigger fonts or for pure speculation, then continuing to stock them may very well be prohibitive.
I applaud MMP's continued development of NEW ASL products that existing players desire. I do not support the SK concept beyond SK3. Expanding ASL to Korea was good, though in short order it will probably be ignored much as the North African Theater is now by players. And the number of APs and Winter Offensive packs, along with their additional geomorphic map-boards (a boon to scenario designers) are greatly appreciated. Jaded and disillusioned as I am, I had not specifically viewed them as a primary source of revenue to be obtained from a dwindling customer base made up mostly of long-time players such as myself (I've been playing SL/ASL since 1979). You have convinced me this may very well be the case.
The unfortunate downside of this is the tacit acknowledgement that ASL is a hobby in decline. That is neither good nor bad, but rather it may be the simple reality. Things do change and things do come to an end. When did you last put a coin in a pay phone, play a record or take a photo with a camera using film? If one views MMP as a shark (that must keep swimming and eating to survive) and that their primary strategy is to market new items aimed at the existing world-wide 5,000-10,000 (I'm rather optimistic) ASL players just so they can survive, then it is a sound one-and more likely, the only one.
I am very happy MMP sells out of product, that means they are making money. I support them and usually purchase three copies of every product they release. I have
Red Factories and the AoO reprint on preorder. I understand that the French and Italians will require all new layout of their components, but most of their non-availability status predates the original release date of AoO. That is a long time folks. As a result, the North African theater is mostly dead. Having acknowledged all the reasons MMP might do so, still, instead of a yet another, third, massive Stalingrad project that is just a continuation of one battle, I would rather see the desert, Italians and French receive their re-vamped core module before the hobby does fade away.