To me what makes a great figure is:
1. A properly proportioned realistic sculpt
2. Realistic color apps (no purples and oranges)
3. Appropriate accessories

Storm Shadow looks great on all those criteria. But I buy figures to use them is dios and photos. I have a hard time justifying buying something I can't or won't use in photos. I'm really doubting that these figures can be used along side the stuff I've already got.

I really wish they hadn't decided to drop the o-ring, and the ball heads look stupid in photos. Just look at the head of the Barrage figure in all the Barrage photos on this site and tell it doesn't look stupid.

If Hasbro was intending to market these primarily to collectors they would have stuck with the o-ring. The shift means they are trying to market to kids and collectors, which is always dicey. The investment in new construction also signals that Hasbro doesn't want the line to die here.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed.