Seibertron wrote:This thread is fascinating to me because of the extremes of opinions. Half of you seem like you are really geeked about this set (like myself) and the other half of you are divided into two camps: 1) it's too expensive or 2) this is a waste because it's been released in so many different colors. Here are my responses to those of you who think this is a negative thing ...
It's about what I expected the price to be. In fact, it's actually a pretty decent deal. I believe the original set of these guys went for around $30. Paying 3 times that amount is pretty standard for reissues. In fact, a lot of reissues have an even higher markup. We've been paying around $34 for Encore Autobot cars without batting an eye when in fact they were around $8 or $9 originally back in '84 and '85 ... that's about 4 times the amount of the original. A Bruticus giftset today goes for at least $300 or $400. Good luck finding one in decent shape with all of the parts, stickers and the whole diecast issue is of concern because I don't think the giftset had diecast in the US (unsure about Japan). I'd say $93 for a replica of the original G1 Japanese boxset with a little "Encore" logo somewhere on it is a pretty damn good deal.
As for it being too expensive because you already have this figure in 12 other colored versions for a much cheaper price ... my argument is very simple: this item is not intended for collectors such as yourself. If you think it should be around $50 or less and you feel that the other colored versions of this mold are a substitute for the G1 original, then we're talking about someone who probably isn't looking to spend hundreds of dollars on their collection for original G1 figures. An item like this is intended for collectors of the original items. To a collector like myself, RID Ruination is NOT in any way shape or form a substitute for G1 Bruticus. It seems very alien and strange to me to read comments from users who think that it is.
But not all of the Encores have been three times their vintage price, just mostly the cars. The Mini-bots set is around thirty dollars, and it contains five figures. That comes to about six dollars per figure, which is only really a dollar or two more than what they used to cost (correct me if I am wrong, but I thought Mini-bots used to be around four to five each).
Then, I can also get Metroplex (who‘s not seen hardly as much use as this mold and is quite a good deal larger than this guy) for around ten to fifteen dollars less. I don’t know, it just doesn’t seem like too great of an deal seeing as how I can get even other Encore figures like Metroplex, as stated above for less than what the Combaticons are costing.
But to each their own. I DO see the appeal of being able to own him in his original colors, but I can’t help but feel Defensor, Devastator, or even Menasor would have been better choices.
I REALLY LOVE ENCORE! 
