Urban Saboteur, thank you for sharing your well detailed post! It would be easy to say ditto to your points, because they are very true to the subject. For better or worse, the toy companies have found a large customer base that supports their products that fall outside their targeted demographics. "Us" the fans and collectors of GI Joe. I think it makes Hasbro try harder at making their products better. Since we demand bigger and better. And worse in that they took a child's toy and turned into a collectible for adults. (Do kids still play with GI Joe's?) In doing so, they have figured out that making some figures more collectible, people like us are more apt to track them down. Thus creating a artificial demand. And the scalpers have figured out how to profit on that artificial demand. So who's the bad guy, Hasbro, Scalpers or the adult fans who "collect" the products? My thought on the subject is, let Hasbro go back to making toys, that kids can afford and find without a bunch of old dudes fighting over something designed for a six year old. Create a Collectible division to cater to the old farts like us who can't abandon our childhood. And cut the scalper out of the picture. Just a rambling thought on the subject.
