Lego is like the old business that thinks they can go through with their plans without realizing the steady growth of the internet and its redneckbeard people on it that customize and sell something everyone needs and wants.
Of course it's stupid, thinking they can wait and - until then - sell some of these or those figures in order for the people to buy those instead and only THEN release the other ones later on down the line. Expecting neckbeards to buy them all... but it kinda works, so eh.
And they are available outside the US, my dear Aubel. Chinatown stores around the globe, Poland's huge black market, flea marts and of course ebay itself are oppurtunities to get THE figure you always wanted, but would never buy anyway.