Can't believe I am posting this but I promise this is relevant.
 
http://shine.yahoo.com/fashion/jennifer-lopez-barbie-doll-not-bootylicious-194000334.html
 
To the people complaining that J-Lo Barbie is "way too thin," please 
understand that Matty has to work somewhat within the existing confines of 
the steel they already have cut.  Both versions of this doll are limited 
editions pieces retailing for $30; if you want custom steel molds produced 
for the entire figure, at this level of sales, you're looking to pretty 
much triple that price point.  You got a custom head and it appears like 
some work done to the hip piece.  But I guarantee you the arms and legs are 
standard buck pieces, and possibly the chest.  Despite what it may seem I 
do not know a whole lot about Barbie doll construction.
 
The most expensive part of creating any poly-plastic based toy is "cutting 
steel" for the mold.  This is why toy companies will reuse molds over and 
over and over again to defray the initial cost of cutting that steel in the 
first place; Mattel famously did this for Masters Of The Universe until the 
line got so profitable that they could make more custom parts.  Barbie is 
based almost entirely on this principle, as are Matty's other "collector 
based" lines like DCU Classics an MOTU Classics.  (Matty's other big line 
is Hot Wheels, which is slightly different as they use primarily castings, 
but same idea -- cars are reissued multiple times in different paint decos 
to pay for the cost of creating the casting.)
 
I don't know how prevalent this is in the world of dolls, but for 
traditional boys toys, the adult collectors who bemoan stuff like this 
drive me nuts.  They want every piece custom made for each character, but 
then cry foul when the price has to go up.  Did I like it when GI Joe went 
to their upgraded molding techniques for Pursuit of Cobra, bustingout 
swivel wrists, rocker ankles, and a small arsenal included with each 
figure?  Yes I did, but I didn't like them charging me over $11.99 for a 
Joe, either.  So while I miss some of those items in the Retaliation line, 
guess what, I am not paying nearly as much for it; it's a trade off.  
 
So, consider if you want a $30 nice-but-not-perfect J-Lo Barbie to put on 
display or if you would rather pay $100 for one with bigger hips and tush.  
For the love of Hashut just buy some Sculpy and kitbash her if it means 
that much to you!  Yeesh!

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