The way I see it is that you don't object their policy, while I do. I feel that you see their policy from a point of view were market expansion won't help MF market to grow, as opposed to me, I think that: A) If they had a "true price" for their new backs (a price that wouldn't include buying back to throw the trade to Jumbo) new backs would be considerably cheaper. B)This would lead to even cheaper market for the older equipment and a healthy S/H market that would obviously grow MF market considerably. C) More people would notice the benefits of MF from upper-class DSLRs and this could give MF its pre-decade glow back!
For all the above reasons, I call their policy Suicidal. I bet you have noticed that there are many people that think that their DSLR images can compare with say, an Aptus 54 (2006), this is their impression! They just don't know that the Aptus will make their Mickey Mouse DSLR image to look like the ....cartoon it is if compared! That's why they will never advance to MF, they consider it useless, ultra expensive and of no benefit, while a different policy from the makers would PROVE the opposite! Cheers, Theodoros www.fotometria.gr
P.S.Obviously, Hass's close system policy enhances the confusion and makes things even more ...suicidal! The only thing they have to do is produce a CF version in parallel with the CFVs and an H body that will accept different brand backs, they can insist all the integration they want there after.
Theodoros,
Please don´t get me wrong, but I don´t share your conclusion (point C). While MF always has superior quality, is the only system used in our work and is perfectly fitting our style there is a lot of work done that has to be done very fast and cheap, that won´t allow a big set, heavy lighting or just needs higher ISO to be able to work with available light. No MF pricing policy will be able to change these facts. I love MF for several reasons, but I feel it will never get back to the "pre-decade glow". It will more and more fade away, used for exceptional, special work.
There is a great demand for motion work and this is the place where we feel we have to invest right now, and we started to buy some daylights, not a RED (yet).
Cheers, Ulf