I thing that this was the main problem, however, trains can't be cheap to make abd they still make them. I know this topic is not about trains but what if Lego started a subway collection? they could do NYC's subway and London's Underground. ;)
I can not understand the Lego anti weapons/war theme thing. I could if they understood it themselves. Lego makes weapons and guns and have thems such as Viking, Castle, Pirates & Bionicles but tanks are bad? Army aircraft and Naval ships are bad? I just don't get it. |-/
And the time alone that Lego spent just developing and testing each part. There is no whay the master mold is gone. I just think Lego wanted to simplify the line and vowed to never bring the sets back again. But even if they did this, there is no way the master mold is gone.
I would think that Lego has a Master mold for everything that is made that has been put into a safe somewhere. There is no way the master mold would have been destroyed. They can also make a new mold from and final track piece. Sometimes I don't know what in the hell they are thinking. |-/ ;)
I don't see a problem with it. If people can get more from the item if they sold it on Ebay I don't think the government should step in. The museums just want the chance to buy the items at a cheap price. ;)
A Lego version of this pick would cost a fortune in minifigs. I have a ton of figs in my city but I would still have to buy more just to complete the moc. ;)