If that’s an SS86 or MP44 Optimus then it probably cost more than the Gundam.
MP 44 was when I knew it was time to walk away. MP 10 wasn’t “perfect” but it was a damn fun toy. For bot mode looks, I just bought the Magic Square Not-imus. No way I was paying $400 for the over-engineered TT re-do.
And then the new Bumblebee was Skinny Homer made plastic… and a hundred bucks. The TFW circlejerk kept going on and on about how MP was “premium” now. No, dudes… you’re just being fleeced.
Edit: it also didn’t help that I started getting back into gunpla around that time, bringing my spouse along for the ride. It’s really really difficult to justify the new MP prices when the same money can buy a Perfect Grade (or a raft of HGs).
Though I will say that Skids was a welcome surprise that was a joy to handle and transform. Lots of Hasui design vibes that spanked XTB’s effort with ease.
I never got into MP. I tried to get an MP-10 when they were available at retail but they were sold out when I got to the store. These days I don’t really see the point; every character with an MP also has a decent figure in the mainlines, so it makes more sense to just stick to that scale.
I finally found one the morning that a hurricane was due to come through. Had been stalking TRU for weeks without luck. I skipped the Japanese release because why did I need a smaller Prime? But the US release hit the sweet spot on price, and once I got it in my hands… I understood. Which then lead to going back and picking up Sideswipe and Alert (at inflated prices) and the rest is history.
Agreed on the current state of things. The mainline stuff is a much better bang for your buck. Hell, I’ve even said more than once that if I had to do it over again, I’d ditch MP and go legends scale. Third parties swooped in and made some amazing toys at much smaller scales. But since I was all-in on MP, I stuck with it.
