Subject:
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Re: The Future of Trains
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego
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Date:
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Tue, 2 Oct 2007 14:19:55 GMT
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Highlighted:
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(details)
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19188 times
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In lugnet.lego, Ben Fleskes wrote:
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the way I see it, LEGO is a plastic company - they are very good at making
things in plastic and outsource all electro-mechanical and metal components.
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I’m going to take this comment and take the idea one step further (and use you
as an example to boot:-)
I agree with you, Ben, and more importantly, I believe that is how TLG sees
themselves as well. Further, I believe TLG believes itself to be a toy company
that makes toys for children. Yes, I believe they see and understand that
adults can and do use them too, but for whatever reason, they cannot seem to
grasp the concept of marketing directly to them. I believe they will never
pursue a LEGO hobby train market.
Sure, they released the 10183 Hobby Train
Set, but with all due respect, that set is basically a train parts pack. There
seems to be this idea that TLG cannot make money by pursuing such a limited
market as adult LEGO trainheads. What’s funny is that there are all kinds of
companies that produce all kinds of things for small train markets: Z (Z!), N,
HO, S (S!!), O, G (G!!!). Don’t they all know that that can’t be done??
Ahem, and so my point: This is a seminal moment for me in my status as a LEGO
hobby train enthusiast. TLG has refused to cater to me and to those like me,
and if they won’t, somebody else will. And it’s already happened. Ben, you
took it upon yourself to produce your own driver wheels. Bully! The LEGO train
hobby is better for your efforts, as it will be better for the future efforts of
others as well-- and for the current efforts of others.
What I mean by that is that from now on, I will be using parts produced by
companies OTHER than TLG for my LEGO trains. The idea of “purity” is toast to
me. Sure, I’ll still have some personal guidelines, but really, hasn’t it
always been thusly? Stickers, BBB wheels, souped-up controllers, LEDs, metal
rods, a cut here and there-- those are just some of my “impurities”.
But now, the canard of purity has finally been dashed for good. Because it’s
either accepting that reality, or leave the hobby (with purity intact)
altogether. Some have already stated their intentions to do just that, and
that’s fine. Personally, I believe it will be liberating. So, I’ll find train
parts, electronics, etc, made by companies who were willing to produce them, and
not ask or rely on TLG to make versions which need to double as a child’s toy,
too.
It sounds heretical, I know, but one day we will all laugh. I’m laughing
already:-)
JOHN
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: The Future of Trains
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| (...) <snip> (...) Thank you for making a decision on this. Those 'in the know' have known this was a decision that needed to be made for a while now and I'm pleased that a decision and a course of direction are now set. Over the years I've done a (...) (17 years ago, 2-Oct-07, to lugnet.lego)
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