In my humble opinion LEGO is listening to us, the community.
Not in the way some people like to think that if we say we want a new set or line continued they will apply in the next year.
I think it is more like a mammoth tanker; TLC sets the course based on historical data and market research and we, the community, can tweek it to a certain extend. Maybe a degree to starboard or port, but not more.
However I think that LEGO has in a slow manor, like a tanker, discovered the AFOL community as an existing target group. Meaning we get stuff made and designed for us. CC, MMV and so on.
Lets hope they won't forget us in the future. Remember TLC: "todays kid is tomorrows AFOL".