Hello everyone! I discovered this topic (yes, the topic leaded me to the forum and not the other way around!) 2-3 months ago and have been catching up with the 500 pages. I love to read all your theories, but I felt like I never had anything to say... til now! :)
I am also a bit disappointed with the fact that, apparently, there will be no Gringotts; but I also think it will become a stand-alone set with the dragon next year. I am more concerned though with the lack of Eeylops Owl Emporium and Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, but then I realized about something: these two shops were represented (in a way) in the Hermione's set of 2001, as this set had a little shop with animals and another one with cloaks and hats (well, yes, also books and potions...). These two shops are also for me very iconic and could present a lot of playability for kids as well: change the appearance of minifigures, get them new pets... So here is the thing: what if we would get a new version of them (as stand-alones, like Gringotts) in future waves too? Since they are remaking some of the old sets. I personally loved this one as kid*!
On the other hand, I must confess that this also reassures me: I know the set is going to be gorgeous anyway, so I am really looking for excuses to not buy it! (I know, it is normally in the other way around). So for me this is now like: "Oh, well, no Gringotts? no Leaky Cauldron? Good! I don't need to buy anymore ".
*To shortly introduce myself (hopefully it is not too off-topic, plus sorry for this long post): I am a Spanish expat living in Belgium and big fan of Harry Potter (Ravenclaw here!) and Lego (mostly HP, but I have a bunch of other sets from my childhood, plus the new HP, some Star Wars microfighters and City/Space sets; also Lego PC games). My first Lego Harry Potter was the Hogwarts castle of 2001, when I was around 9-10, together with Hogwarts classrooms (Harry's set) and Gryffindor house (Ron's set). I never got myself Hermione's one, but I loved it so much. And that was it with the "vintage" sets, until (to deal better with the lockdown) my boyfriend brought from his parents' house his own old HP sets from 2001: another Hogwarts castle, The sorting hat, The final challenge, Diagon Alley Shops (Hermione's set!!), Troll on the Loose, Escape from Privet Drive, Aragog in the Dark Forest and Slytherin. Together with these (3+8), we also have 6 sets from the 2018 wave (Aragog, Great Hall, Whomping Willow, Hogwarts Express, Quidditch Match and Grindelwald's Escape), 7 sets from the 2019 wave (Expecto Patronum, Hagrid's Hut, Clock Tower, Knight Bus, Beauxbatons’ Carriage, The Rise of Voldemort and Advent Calendar) and so far 3 sets from the 2020 wave (The Burrow, Astronomy tower and Room of Requirement; these two last ones waiting for next birthday and Christmas -our way to justify the Lego sets!), although I am considering to buy Privet Drive since it costs right now 50 euro in the Dutch Amazon. We also bought some minifigs from the first collection. And, all right, that is. Sorry for this part, I felt like it was right to introduce myself when coming as new to this place .
