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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DracoSuave" data-source="post: 5202896" data-attributes="member: 71571">You are aware that is absolutely NOT how the company has ever operated in the past?One of the first things they did when they looked at buying TSR was what their market research was.Keeping in touch with the market is one of the things that's made them a very successful business in the past... do you think they suddenly stopped doing what works for them as a company?This isn't even a cogent argument; it'd be irrational to assume they haven't done the market research, especially given the amount of customer input that has obviously gone into the brand's evolution.  You want proof they're in touch with their customers?  The product reacts to stuff that happens on -THIS- board.Wizards has made mistakes, but 'didn't do the research' has never been one of them.  There's no evidence that they've suddenly stopped either.  It is simply irrational to assume otherwise.Here's the crux of the matter.It's not that it is felt that this market should go unserved.  Far from it, it'd be great if that avenue could be opened.  Ideally, that would be a wonderful thing.However, realism requires a bit more than 'it'd be cool!'  The argument isn't that it isn't wanted, or that this market should go unserved.  The argument is that doing so is not viable for Wizards at this time.There are many possible reasons for it, but one big one is, and always has been, that this same demographic you indicate is also the demographic most likely to simply steal it for free if it is available.  That's a realistic statement, and it is one those who are in charge of such things must consider when offering digital wares.The other big one is that Wizards, as a company, lives or dies by the brick and mortars.  I know some companies can get by on PDFs, but Wizards is not just a creator of some niche RPG products.  They sell the biggest RPG in the world, the biggest collectible card game in the world, and have a sizable adult strategy board game section.   They -need- the brick and mortar companies to sell their products, because that is where most of their revenue comes from.A lot of the 'They can do it' arguments are about comparing them to either one's own desires, or small companies with small product lines, do not consider the future of the business's growth, do not consider that Wizards does a little bit more than print D&D books, and generally chalk it all down to accusing them of 'not being in touch with their market.'It's idealism, and it's not founded on the big picture.</blockquote>

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