Yeah, the 'confusion' thing was kinda funny. I mean, I'd seen it in action - someone has just tried the game, likes it, wants the PH, walks up to the counter with a PH2 "no, that doesn't have the rules you need, get a regular PH" "Isn't this one better?" I mean, avoiding labels like PH/2/ would have saved /minutes/ of time and confusion.
But, once Essentials was out, that confusion remained, plus there being /two/ 'essential' player books, neither of which has a title that in any way implies it's for players, that were heavily redundant, and the Rules Compendium that sounds like it should be a complete game but isn't, and a basic set that was /totally/ redundant.... and 3 'essential' sets that were just cardboard tiles (and, ironically, better accessories than half the rest of the essentials line). Or, y'know, you could go in on a DDI subscription.
Well, that sure simplified things.