Yeah but they don't make a blip really. I agree though, they were very much throw something as the wall and see if it sticks type of things. Good idea but poor execution. I still have my 4e monster tokens. Those were a good design. Still I think they were better than Wizkids rip off of skinny minis that are overpriced for what you get in the package.
Which highlights the problem with the OP: even if you could establish a measure of quality, the sample size (6 data points!) is far, far too small to establish a trend. Anyone who knew the slightest bit about statistics would know that.
I have similar views about Strixhaven. Whist I felt it wasn't for me, it's by far the most innovative thing WotC has published for a long time.
Innovation does not always lead to success. We see the survivors in nature but not all the failures as they die out.
No it doesn't. But without it we will never see anything great.
It's all relative, of course.
The acrylic stand-ups look very nice, and they are less than $1 apiece vs. the $4-5 per pre-painted mini cost. If I didn't have 30+ years of minis, the acrylics is the way I would have gone. Yes, yes, I know the cardboard tokens are even cheaper, but they feel cheap too. I've got the old fold-ups back from the D&D basic line and the 4E tokens from Monster Vault and I've NEVER used them (mainly because of having tons of minis already). I'd use the acrylics, though.
Ravenloft was the next book after Tasha's, implemented all of Tasha's changes, and was the first book to have Mosnters of the Multiverse style Rave and Monster options (as it turns out, stealth OneD&D options). I don't think that quality has declined, in general.
I agree with you that to me quality hasn't declined. The entire 5e publication schedule has been IMO bumpy in terms of quality, as in there are some things that are pretty good but not great, and others that aren't as good but not bad. But there's no trend - it's up and down from product to product rather than an overall upward or downward trend.
