They probably had a meeting at Hasbro and found it was not cost effective to make an eye patch!! I think the real reason is that Billy: along with Bongo, Hard Master, Soft Master, Professor Apell, Dr. Burkhart are Larry Hama's tie in characters. Larry was given the job to sell the main action figures that Hasbro created,produced: and make them look good in the Marvel comic book plot. These tie in characters were used to help enhance overall storylines in the comic; but were never intended to become action figures. I think the October Guard were tie in characters but they became so popular Hasbro realized they could make money off them and eventually decided to make them. Eventually in 1993 Hasbro was cranking out silly looking figures the public didn't like and not even Hama's excellent writing ability could save the line. Just a theory.