The point is that KIDS idealize. They go bonkers for these sets because they see the advertising and drool over them in the stores and catalogs. They put the sets up on a pedestal, because they don't have anything else to compare to. And the result is that when they become adults, that deep-seated, yet not-necessarily-logical desire is still there, resulting in nostalgia. The point is that I think kids are NOT bored by these sets. AFOLs are. And older kids are.tiberium_blue wrote:People who are nostalgic tend to idealize.
From what I can see, there are 4 different types of "flagship" sets for the castle lineup:
A) Big Castle With One Faction
B) Big Castle With One Faction And Prisoner/Small Contingent
C) Big Castle With Besieging Army
D) Other
By my count:
1978 - (A) - 375/6075
1979 - (n/a)
1980 - (n/a)
1981 - (n/a)
1982 - (n/a)
1983 - (n/a)
1984 - (A) - 6080
1985 - (n/a)
1986 - (A) - 6074
1987 - (n/a)
1988 - (A) - 6085
1989 - (B) - 6077
1990 - (A) - 6081
1991 - (n/a)
1992 - (A) - 6086
1993 - (A) - 6082
1994 - (n/a)
1995 - (A) - 6090
1996 - (B) - 6079
1997 - (B) - 6097
1998 - (B) - 6093
1999 - (?) - 3053?
2000 - (C) - 6091/6098
2001 - (n/a)
2002 - (n/a)
2003 - (n/a)
2004 - (C) - 8781
2005 - (C) - 8877
2006 - (C) - 8823
2007 - (C) - 7094
2008 - (D) - 7029
2009 - (B) - 7097
2010 - (C) - 7946
2011 - (D) - 7189
So, actually, it would appear that LEGO's been making an effort to get some diversity-- but they still are making sure that there's always a tried-and-true "Standard Castle Under Siege" set still available on the market.
DaveE