We can see it on every GI Joe boards, there is less and less activities these days. From one side, Hasbro is not helping by not providing toys that people want/like and suppliers (like TRU) are not ordering enough (like for Kre-o). I'm an o-ring collector and never jump into the 25th line/Modern era except for vehicles. So, I feel a little bit ignored.
Few o-rings initiatives were interesting:
1- SK Omega: Original, futurist and o-ring characters. This line was also including (large) vehicles. But this project never showed up (
http://www.joecanuck.com/jc/index.php?topic=4344.0).
2- OSC project was supposed to make original o-ring characters and filling some hole in the GI joe toy line (shooter, Pythona, etc.), but someone stole the money... leaving the supporters with empty hands (
http://arah-old-school.forumsmotion.com/).
3- Legion XIV Productions (by Falcone) made few years ago some great o-ring female trooper. While pretty well done, these were 4 inches high, not 3.75... so they were not made for the original o-ring collector (
https://www.facebook.com/LegionXivProductions)
4- The.Black.Major "custom": Made a lot of troopers, Crimson guard, BAT and now female trooper with colour variations (Blue, White, Black, Urban camo, Crimson, etc.). There were sometimes few issues like smaller foot hole or smaller back hole, but the fans jump on these. Selling from $7 to $15 by the Black Major, on the second hand market they were going as high as $30. These are half legit. While the characters use the same Hasbro mold (and logo), some variation were totally original (colours never made by Hasbro for these mold) (
http://www.ebay.ca/sch/the_black_major/m.html).
So, most of these initiatives were fans initiatives. What's the future for o-ring collectors? The Club and Hasbro are no more interested by o-ring... with website like kickstarter, are the fans will take the lead this time?
If there were more o-ring offers (convention exclusive, club exclusive, fans initiative, etc.), would you be more "board" active, more "collector" enthusiast, still a buyer?