John, let me say that I can understand what you are saying. When one reads the other major train forum at OGR, you can easily get the impression that everyone is interested and buys high-end, hi-tech, expensive trains. Yet when I talk to train dealers, the exact opposite is true: low end, non-command trains sell much better. Granted, this can differ from dealer to dealer and can also depend on mail order business.
I’ve been back in the hobby over 15 years. Up to getting laid off a couple of years ago, I figure I have around 4 grand in the hobby, which includes building 4 different layouts. I have been a constant voice for the low-end of the hobby: decent quality, non-scale, traditionally sized, non-command 027 trains in modern road names. And ironically, a couple of the biggest hits of the past few years have been this kind of product.
I love the K-Line S-2 switcher and see K-Line’s rapid entry in the scale arena as the biggest reason for their downfall: too much, too fast and not enough revenue coming in to cover the vast sums they were spending on brand new unpaid for tooling that couldn’t recoup it’s costs on the initial product run.
The vast majority of train hobbiests don’t even participate on these train forums. For years, of all the guys I knew, I was the sole person who participated on these forums. And of everyone I know, the clear majority use 027 track, and run non-scale, non-command trains.
As the economy has worsened in this area (another major plant closing was announced days before CHRISTmas) folks are tightening their belts. Train guys I know are NOT buying high end. And if they do, it is because the product has been blownout at 50-60% off regular retail. Good for the consumer, bad for the train makers.
The one thing I have spent on the hobby is time: designing and building my own engines, cars, operating cars and operating accessories. Even non-scale 027 trains can still be detailed and look much more real than they normally would.