You're absolutely right. I think my ideal requires a complete overhaul of the gameline itself is produced, which is why I bring up the player box side of things.
As it stands now, a DM who wants to have "all the stuff" (not literally all books and gewgaws, but a healthy minimum for not-theater-of-the-mind play) is picking up 3 expensive core books plus an expensive hardcover, and maybe finding cheap tokens and printing out battle maps cheaply as needed. What I'd propose is to repackage the game entirely such that a single adventure box is all you need as the DM to run that adventure as the DM. You'd get a pared down core rules (like the Starter and Essentials kits, but with none of the character creation-specific things, and in their place the DM-specific things), monsters and magic items are all on cards so you don't need a book of those, and tokens/pawns and battle maps. So an $80-100 box with no need for a DMG, MM, PHB, and the gewgaws is now a deal.
On the player's side, you've got boxes that give you all you need to play any class/race/whatever in those books. Yes, it would probably make the most sense to separate such a box into multiples in order to pare down on how many spell cards you get; maybe the first "core" box is 5-6 classes, the second is another 5-6, etc. But you can pick and choose, and frankly, the folks that buy EVERYTHING are gonna buy everything anyway, so this allows for a little choice in a way that is hopefully either roughly as expensive or even less, if you're choosy.
Choosy Tim's choose this setup ;-P I don't know why I said that.
EDIT: And I think this setup makes it relatively easy to leave releases like the Starter and Essentials box alone (they sell a bunch and seem to work, so why not?). I do wonder how much WOTC considers theater of the mind the default, now, though, in the same way they consider Milestone leveling the default, even though that's technically an optional rule. If they really want to go down that road and move away from battle maps, pawns/tokens, and all that stuff, then my setup doesn't really make sense. That said, none of it invalidates the Core 3 books, and maybe by separating out some elements makes it so a single volume Rulebook is thing theater of the mind folks pick up, and get digital or POD versions of the adventures without all the gewgaws. ...?
For $100, you're getting into the territory of the core rules set at places like Wal-mart. So, for a little more, you can HAVE all 3 rulebooks.
I'd be all over boxed sets for settings, or adventures, though. Those not only play right into the hands of the format, but IMO an adventure in large hardbound text form is a pain right in the buttocks to actually play. I'm constantly flipping back and forth between the map and the text, and having to flip to an appendix for monster statistics; specific magic items, and extras like new spells, etc just makes it more annoying.
A boxed set would give you the maps in large format, and hopefully in screen form too (like the old basic and AD&D modules did!) At the very least, a booklet for the adventure itself, and probably more than one, considering the mini campaign direction adventures have taken. Perhaps a separate booklet for the monsters; NPC's, and unique items/spells. Probably cards for various things you'd access often, and perhaps some other case candy. All in a box large enough to hold your notes and dice as well.
As it is now, I have to go through and copy important encounters, rooms, treasures and stats into a notebook for the expected next session. Just so I can look at them AND the map at the same time- and not be constantly looking stuff up in the appendices. I also leave enough space for round by round combat logs: initiative order, HP totals, who does what, condition and spell/effect durations (and when they end), and other things like when others might join the fight. And, at the end, XP for that encounter; any items the party found, and any loot. I'll also make a note of who is wounded, and any healing done to them.
It just makes it easier to have a foe's full combat statistics right at my fingertips, as well as standard tactics. Plus, the format also gives me a place to jot notes on adjustments I made.
Having separate booklets for the adventure, the appendix type stuff, and a fold out or stand up map all available to look at at a glance would save me a TON of preparation time. Then I'd just have to keep the notes n stuff. Spell and monster cards would be awesome!
Campaign settings should include world maps, area maps, a booklet of player type stuff, a DM's booklet, and whatever else they deem appropriate- like a themed DM's screen.
