Boy, rereading this is a hoot:

6 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

Boy, rereading this is a hoot:

It was. From what I read, I saw a lot of people saying the same thing being said today. “Exclusive gameplay prizes are bad. But exclusive cosmetics like repaints are fine.”

Darth: I appreciate the sense of humor you bring to the forums. Your interest in casual play, resonates with lots of readers.

I would like to add, I was leaning very heavy towards having a Plo repaint done by a local painter, then the prize ship was announced. I held off and didn’t have it done because there had been an official release of that paint scheme, then I pulled the trigger and went ahead and had it done. There are a couple differences from the official one from the pics I’ve seen but it looks very good. This cost less than the price of the single expansion. I’d also like to add that if it hadn’t been for the extremely cool pre-painted miniatures I never would have gotten into this game. I can see all sides here, it really sucks that there are official paint schemes that are not available to the general public, but it would also suck for it not to exist at all. If you really like the paint scheme it doesn’t take much to convince a local painter to give it a whirl, most warhammer players I know can paint one of these in no time at all for those of us who can no longer accomplish it and those who couldn’t to begin with. The funny thing is, even if I hadn’t gotten a repaint done, I’m more jealous of the Red Squadron cardboard that was available. 🤣🤣

11 hours ago, gamblertuba said:

I personally came home from Worlds with two Plos. (Washed out and farmed tickets with the pod people.) Sold one online and sold the second to a local player for half the price of the online sale. I also drove 6 hours to a SOS, and 4 and 3 hours to two different HST. I bought a plane ticket and paid for an Air BnB at World's. Add in some food, an Uber to and from the airport and going to Worlds cost me around $350. If the Plo alt-ship was not offered as a participation prize, I would not have gone to Worlds. I could not afford justify the cost. I don't think that makes me a bad guy.

Feeling bad cuz you didn't go to Worlds and also don't want to spend the coin to buy one is OK too. But please don't try to talk FFG out of giving out alt-painted ships. I will say the limited quantities of Vultures at Adepticon is a double feel bad moment.

13 hours ago, ScummyRebel said:

@Darth Meanie - not all of us would have tried for Worlds if it weren’t for the prize options. It was the prize article combined with “hey here’s this last chance to qualify!” that sold me. I knew I’d either get in and get the Plo Model the earned way, or I’d qualify for side events and bum around playing xwing and might be able to afford the ship via prize tickets.

In either case, it piqued my interest far more than alt art cards do, in no short reason because I find it more useful (can place it in any list with a delta fighter as opposed to a specific card for a specific pilot, etc).

So, before you say “those folks would have gone anyway,” that’s not entirely true. The ones with invites and who go year after year would have, sure. But not the scrubs that manage to sneak in

Well, thanks for these. I can see better how these ships can be prime movers for getting people to come long distances to play X-Wing.

It still makes me sad to miss out on ships, but I guess at some point FFG has to up the ante from cards and chits.

Maybe someday, when FFG starts giving away huge ship repaints, you might actually see me at a con. 😉

Let's take a moment to admire how some of the arguments for the existence of these models defeat the other arguments towards the same end. In isolation they look good but next to each other, well, you'll see. Watch this, and please, do enjoy.

A.) "FFG needs something special to attract players to the event." ... Okay seems fair, yeah, let's go wi....

B.) "If you want your own special model, you could paint your own or have it done for you." ... Wait... Then what makes it special!? If it's available through other means, and was so before the event, then how the heck did it 'attract' you to the event?! It's not special if it's available elsewh...

C.) "It's expensive to go to (event) so you need to offer a special reward." ... Holdo the comlink a second... You mean to tell me, that the best reward for the expense of let's say $500, was a item that was already available for say $50? And that players wouldn't 'justify' the cost unless they got one? So why in the burning engines didn't they already 'justify' the cost to have one made for 50 instead of going out for ten times the price!? That's digging real hard for a reason to go when there was no...

D.) "Well I went because they had it as a special offer, but sold it to defray the cost of going." Okay this ones too easy. It defeats itself. You went for the special, but then got rid of the special? So in the end you went for the experience, but outside a couple phone pics and stories you got nothing to really show for it? But hey, discount? Well you obviously were able to afford to go in the first place, so why do you need a rebate? See points B, and C, for recommendations on how you should have spent that weekend, and not your money.

Y'all, c'mon, this is just silly. None of these hold up.

Let's get back down to the basics. We're all friends here. And there's a group of our friends that are in one way or another not enjoying, strongly enough to come here and talk about it, an aspect of the game. There's no sensible reason to be disgruntled about the disgruntled. It's also not the first time this has happened for this issue. And 2 for 2 is not a good track record when it comes to upset customers, y'know? Others have put it best, special minis seem to cross a line that tokens and cardboard don't.

@JJ48 I'd like to respond to a question you had posed to @Darth Meanie, would it be different if it was a non-canon paint scheme and instead one that was special to the event? I'd say yes. I think a lot of the issue on this Plo one is that it was a canonical image. And as others have said, it doesn't bear much significance to the event either. And they're are already fan versions out there, and probably more of those now too, that in the end it's not 'special' to the event in the final analysis anyway. I've responded on the subject previously that if the model had been stamped or decaled/printed with the date or other event info like the logo, it would sensibly then be a special reward and makes accordingly. A 'world's event' scheme would have fulfilled the same role. So yes, I'd say it would have been better. Between the Plo and the not-threepio golden Droid, I can at least give the Goldie a begrudged pass.

5 hours ago, Darth Meanie said:

Maybe someday, when FFG starts giving away huge ship repaints, you might actually see me at a con.

I’ll look for you, because I fully plan to go after one of those too if they have one

Huge ship conversion + epic missions is by far the thing I’ve been most excited for since 2.0 came out.

4 hours ago, ForceSensitive said:

D.) "Well I went because they had it as a special offer, but sold it to defray the cost of going." Okay this ones too easy. It defeats itself. You went for the special, but then got rid of the special? So in the end you went for the experience, but outside a couple phone pics and stories you got nothing to really show for it? But hey, discount? Well you obviously were able to afford to go in the first place, so why do you need a rebate? See points B, and C, for recommendations on how you should have spent that weekend, and not your money.

Y'all, c'mon, this is just silly. None of these hold up.

I went to Worlds because X-wing is fun, the people who play it are fun, and I wanted to play and have fun. The goofy blue and white spaceship was just a means to that end. I don't speak for anyone but myself but keeping the alt-ship was never a serious consideration for me. I don't own any Republic ships. I don't have a large local scene for X-wing so playing dozens of games against people from all over the World is definitely worth a weekend. If I can take a new shiny and sell it to someone that wants it to help defray the cost of said weekend, that's a big help.

I'm not going to tell somebody "Don't feel bad." because they missed out on an event exclusive ship. I'm also not going to let someone make me feel bad for taking that ship and selling it to defray the cost of travelling to Worlds.

Unique ships as prizes has a bunch of people bummed. That's a valid opinion. Feel free to express that opinion to FFG. However, what's the point of OP prize support? I'd guess it's just advertising by another name. All this buzz is probably good news for FFG, even the grumbling. People are talking about the game and the events. X-wing Worlds was huge and has the capacity to be even bigger next year.

@ForceSensitive You are assuming that all the arguments were meant to work together. And you know the common saying about assumptions. Just as someone can have a differing opinion about alt art ships being too far, people can have differing view points why its alright. So, excuse me if I don’t take your word that arguments for event exclusive paint jobs don’t hold up.

I also think you are taking the suggestion to repaint a base one to Plo out of context. It’s an option to solve the problem, not justify. Getting a custom repaint of Plo has always existed, before we even knew FFG was going to offer up a factory paint job of his ship. If not having Plo bothers you so much, then I highly recommend you do something to rectify that.
You are right, we are all friends here. But that doesn’t mean we have to agree or that everyone can be made happy. And when I see someone getting all hot and bothered because someone else got the opportunity for something cool (that would likely not have happened officially otherwise) and they didn’t, my sympathy usually doesn’t last long.

7 hours ago, ForceSensitive said:

It's also not the first time this has happened for this issue. And 2 for 2 is not a good track record when it comes to upset customers, y'know?

You're talking about a very small number of people upset vs those not upset. As far as I've seen, every single release draws at least a few complaints, so by this logic, FFG probably shouldn't release anything at all.

7 hours ago, ForceSensitive said:

I think a lot of the issue on this Plo one is that it was a canonical image.

For some people, sure. However, others have said they simply don't like that there are exclusive models (and have proved it by being just as upset over the shiny Vulture). Is one view more justified than the other? If so, why?

@gamblertuba just to cover the base, I wasn't trying to make anyone feel bad, for or against the little thing. I think, and am trying to steer the conversation towards, that when an issue like this comes up, if there's any bad-feels about it it from any of us in the community, it really doesn't make sense to argue for it to continue to distress the community at all. It's interesting to me that the discussion gets taken that way. Observationally speaking. When I would have thought it would be more folks all gathering in the thread to nod in agreement at different aspects of the issue, coming together as a group saying, 'yeah, JoeBobSallySue is right, gosh it would be cool if we could all get the thing, let's all gang up on FFG and ask together', rather then whatever it is were actually doing here.

@SabineKey I believe you have assumed that I have assumed 😝 I was pointing out that the thread, from my lurking vantage point, was full of points that contradicted the others. Of course they weren't together silly, they weren't even posted by the same people 🤣 also, if you read the opening paragraph in that post, you'll notice I had clearly that thinking in mind 👍 To your second point, I talked about that too. And way back in the thread I pointed out that I could paint one if needed. Maybe when I next feel the urge, I'll move one to the bench. To your third point, if it's not your fight so to speak, that you have no sympathy, then why are you here to discuss it? Like, I assume you have some reason or point you feel needs to be made. I'm just trying to figure out what it is, in honest friendly conversation here. ☺️

@JJ48Your first point is a semantics argument and we both know it. I don't think this rabbit hole needs a tunnel spiraling towards gaming minimalist existentialism lol 😂 also neither of us has any real data to say how many are, or aren't, upset. I'd point out however that the simple fact that it keeps coming up here in the forums is indicator enough that there is likely a high number of folks affected to make it such a perennial item. It's my old 'Contact' movie argument. It's not that there's static on the recording, it's that there's eight hours of it.

To your second item, if I'm understanding the question correctly, though I feel it's what I already answered in my response? I'll try to clarify to match your wording here now. For the record, I was bummed over the vulture too, but like I said I give it a pass(eventually) because there's not a lot significant to that scheme, and actually steps a bit away from what it should look like in Canon. But the Plo scheme, which is also a usable paint for Anakin (azure angel2) has in Canon significance, and is a collector valued item. I think folks bummed about either are justified. I was more saying that I'd wager more folks were bummed that Plo/Anakin may not come out in a more widely available method, then ultimately would have been over the alternative you mentioned being something like a FFG art team designed color scheme.

....***+++***...

So really, I guess the question we could ask, putting all the rest of this thread a bit behind us, is more like alrighty, raise your hand if you'd be excited for FFG to put that sweet Plo/Ani scheme in a future Ace's box? Better yet, what if they put out in a box WITH a golden Droid or two?

If my hand shot up any harder right now, I'd have dislocated my shoulder 😝

32 minutes ago, ForceSensitive said:

So really, I guess the question we could ask, putting all the rest of this thread a bit behind us, is more like alrighty, raise your hand if you'd be excited for FFG to put that sweet Plo/Ani scheme in a future Ace's box? Better yet, what if they put out in a box WITH a golden Droid or two?

I raise my hand

@ForceSensitive Considering your conclusion putting all the arguments together was that they didn’t hold water, which I can’t say I’m convinced of, so I felt your disclaimer at the beginning was insufficient. And as you tried to argue against the repaint, what you said before proves my point that it’s a fix, not a justification.

You also mistake what I mean by sympathy. I feel sympathy for the person who wanted to go to worlds to get Plo but was unable to. I do not have sympathy for people who weren’t going to go regardless and still complain that they didn’t get a chance at the factory Plo repaint. They assume that the other alternative is providing it for everyone when the more likely turn of events is no official Plo for anyone (more on that later). So, while sympathy isn’t the driving factor, I do care that some parts of the community are advocating for the shut down of a practice I think is cool. If they are just expressing an opinion, am I not allowed to express mine? Match that with an undercurrent of entitlement I get from some of the posts, and you have why I can be involved in this discussion and not be sympathetic to members of the opposing view point.

*******

For your last bit, I will put up my hand. But I also think that’s highly unlikely.

Let’s look at former Ace boxes. They provided 3 things: alt paint scheme, new pilots, and new tech (mainly fixes). Both new pilots and new tech are covered by the new card packs. That just leaves the paint scheme, but 1/3 of the value doesn’t seem like a winning formula. Ace Packs are now card packs. There is a hold over of Ace packs in the form of Saw’s Partisans, but that seems to be more because it was released in that transfer point between 1.0 and 2.0.

If you think there is good reasoning why more Ace packs are incoming considering 2/3s of there value gone (including the fix consideration, which was the main draw for most people), I’m down to hear it. But from the way things seem to be going, I’m pretty convinced that the only way Plo was coming out officially was as a prize because no more Ace packs.

35 minutes ago, ForceSensitive said:

I'd point out however that the simple fact that it keeps coming up here in the forums is indicator enough that there is likely a high number of folks affected to make it such a perennial item.

And by the exact same reasoning, the simple fact that people keep complaining about every release is indicator enough that there is likely a high number of folks affected. Again, how is, "Some people don't like exclusive repaints, therefore FFG shouldn't release them," different from, "Some people don't like ship X, therefore FFG shouldn't release it"? And for the record, dismissing an argument is not the same as addressing it.

39 minutes ago, ForceSensitive said:

To your second item, if I'm understanding the question correctly, though I feel it's what I already answered in my response? I'll try to clarify to match your wording here now. For the record, I was bummed over the vulture too, but like I said I give it a pass(eventually) because there's not a lot significant to that scheme, and actually steps a bit away from what it should look like in Canon. But the Plo scheme, which is also a usable paint for Anakin (azure angel2) has in Canon significance, and is a collector valued item. I think folks bummed about either are justified. I was more saying that I'd wager more folks were bummed that Plo/Anakin may not come out in a more widely available method, then ultimately would have been over the alternative you mentioned being something like a FFG art team designed color scheme.

Ok, but all of that is your preference. You gave the Vulture a pass, but did everyone else who was bummed about it? You think canon ships are more collectible than non-canon, but does everyone else?

Furthermore, do you realize how much your arguments hurt each other? If canon is wrong but non-canon repaints are ok, then the Vulture was ok, and FFG is really only 1-for-2 and this is not yet a perennial problem. If they really are 0-for-2, then having non-canon repaints is an issue, too, and we can't just say, "make original repaints". Personally, I think you're trying to argue too much, and your arguments are starting to get in each others' way.

7 minutes ago, SabineKey said:

For your last bit, I will put up my hand. But I also think that’s highly unlikely.

Let’s look at former Ace boxes. They provided 3 things: alt paint scheme, new pilots, and new tech (mainly fixes). Both new pilots and new tech are covered by the new card packs. That just leaves the paint scheme, but 1/3 of the value doesn’t seem like a winning formula. Ace Packs are now card packs. There is a hold over of Ace packs in the form of Saw’s Partisans, but that seems to be more because it was released in that transfer point between 1.0 and 2.0.

If you think there is good reasoning why more Ace packs are incoming considering 2/3s of there value gone (including the fix consideration, which was the main draw for most people), I’m down to hear it. But from the way things seem to be going, I’m pretty convinced that the only way Plo was coming out was as a prize because no more Ace packs.

I'd point out that we do have the Squadron Packs that could be a route used to get some repaints out. Granted, they were most likely released just to give the new factions a little boost, but I could see FFG potentially releasing a pack or two for the other factions, too, as a way to get more copies of well-liked ships for slightly less (as well as to give other factions the gas clouds and probably a couple upgrades exclusive to the packs). If they did this, I would expect the ships in them to be repaints.

Though, this doesn't really help the specific instances we're talking about, as the two exclusive repaints we've seen so far are the two ships which have already appeared in Squadron packs as repaints, and are thus some of the ones least likely to get the treatment again.

@JJ48

Squadron packs are an interesting point. But, until FFG uses them for more than just giving a new faction a jump start, thinking they might is more speculation than a firm reason to see more repaints.

And like you said, in this specific case of the Jedi Starfighter, it has already been put in a Squadron Pack, so another feels doesn’t feel necessary.

I think there is a pretty clear distinction between feeling bad that outside of a secondary market or commission you don't have access to a special ship and feeling wronged by FFG for producing that special ship. The former is a real, valid emotional response, the latter comes across as super entitled.

The same dichotomy exists if they were to release the Plo paintjob at some point: some people will feel bad that their special memorabilia isn't special anymore, or that they overpaid on the secondary market (valid), but others will feel that FFG wronged them by "taking that away from them" (entitled).

1 hour ago, SabineKey said:

I do not have sympathy for people who weren’t going to go regardless and still complain that they didn’t get a chance at the factory Plo repaint.

Eh, that's a little unfair.

Everyone get into this because it's little tiny spaceships made by FFG.

Some got into it because it's little tiny pre-painted spaceships made by FFG.

Most got into it because it's little tiny pre-painted Star Wars spaceships made by FFG .

The desire to have little tiny pre-painted Star Wars spaceships made by FFG has been there long before this program.

Now, you're basically asking numerous players to suppress the very desire that made many of them get into the game, or find an alternative because they now don't deserve cannot get an original at MSRP.

Oh, and my hand is up @ForceSensitive.

12 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

Eh, that's a little unfair.

Everyone get into this because it's little tiny spaceships made by FFG.

Some got into it because it's little tiny pre-painted spaceships made by FFG.

Most got into it because it's little tiny pre-painted Star Wars spaceships made by FFG .

The desire to have little tiny pre-painted Star Wars spaceships made by FFG has been there long before this program.

Now, you're basically asking numerous players to suppress the very desire that made many of them get into the game, or find an alternative because they now don't deserve an original.

Oh, and my hand is up @ForceSensitive.

You keep using the word deserve. I think that is confusing the issue. No one deserves the extra paint job. FFG decided to do it as a gift to people coming to play their game in their “house”. They get to play, and FFG reaps additional benefits from extra exposure and data for balancing. So FFG wanted to add a little something extra as a thank you.

Now, people complain that other people got a gift and I have no sympathy for them. You might think that is unfair, but that’s an opinion that has no barring on mine. I’m not telling others to suppress their desire. I’m trying to suggest alternatives that get them what they want and arguing against envy of a gift.

Yay! I like this direction much better. Now we can have happy discussion's of how to get them shiny toys into the game. All constructive and such. 👍☺️

Squadron packs would be a good vehicle to keep using I think as JJ mentions. Sure, their not going to be coming for a while, but there's some products that were in first that we may never see, at least in the same form, in second soooo... There's a place for it I think. Like Rebel Ace's had a specific purpose in it's production before that isn't needed as such now. For one the B-wing is getting it's S-foil cards 'fix' in a card pack, and second the A-wing is getting it's prototype paint in it's single pack. So really what other than pilot cards do you need an Ace pack for at this time? That another card pack would do just as well. Not that we really need a Force awakens core set either. Sad, but right now true.

Though with Epic getting a bit of love, the environments being eagerly anticipated and all, I could see the squad pack being a really good angle to go with as a foundation. Or alternatively, they haven't really left the 'ace' pack behind, Saws Renegades is still going to be a thing, so maybe we do get something in that vein again.

Like, what if they did a pack that was not just a squad, but some new environment together with it? Down the line. You could have a box that's like Plo's Aethersprite and two Alt-Paint V-wings with a 'battlefield debris' environment cards complete with three new massive Debris cloud tokens with Clone War theme art.

We could get a Resistance Heros pack to get Black One and the new red T70, have it come with some ironic Racing scenario from the cartoon. Just to be funny and such.

Maybe way down the line the Gold Vultures come back as some super rich crime Lord's personal guards in a scum box with N'dru's Zed95 as his hired bounty Hunter, which explains why the droids are all chromed out. Have some unique 'appropriated' ship cards in that box for various ships to be one offs in the scum faction. FFG already got to add a ship to the universe,I feel like they should get to add a short story now.

32 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

Eh, that's a little unfair.

Everyone get into this because it's little tiny spaceships made by FFG.

Some got into it because it's little tiny pre-painted spaceships made by FFG.

Most got into it because it's little tiny pre-painted Star Wars spaceships made by FFG .

The desire to have little tiny pre-painted Star Wars spaceships made by FFG has been there long before this program.

Now, you're basically asking numerous players to suppress the very desire that made many of them get into the game, or find an alternative because they now don't deserve an original.

Oh, and my hand is up @ForceSensitive.

They already have an original pre painted Aethersprite. 2 variations even.

So I agree in that I dont feel sorry for people that want one, but didn't go to worlds. And that is myself included. I can also raise my hand as I would buy it if it came in a regular pack, but I know the chance of it happening is very low. And would also be very low if it was never made as a prize exclusive.

So we can be annoyed and feel sorry for ourselves or we can be happy for the people that got one and that ffg even made it. And for the rest continue to enjoy the game with the ships we are able to buy as we did before.

I have yet to go to my first tournament of X-wing, but even without having been to 1, I am happy ffg makes cool prizes for it that people want to obtain.

1 minute ago, Revanur said:

So I agree in that I dont feel sorry for people that want one, but didn't go to worlds.

24 minutes ago, SabineKey said:

Now, people complain that other people got a gift and I have no sympathy for them.

Well, if getting to Worlds was an equal opportunity venture (like buying stuff off the shelf), both financially and geographically, I could agree.

But you're telling the guy living in Perth and the guy with limited finances (who can afford $20, but not $200 resale or a weekend of travel) that things they want for their games (from the folks that make the game and at MRSP) are just going to be inaccessible. So sorry.

And people aren't treating their gift as a gift; they are treating it as a rebate.

I don't think that kind of mojo should exist in a well-loved game. And it didn't seem to exist before alt-art miniatures. But as you say, that's just my opinion.

4 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

But you're telling the guy living in Perth and the guy with limited finances (who can afford $20, but not $200 resale or a weekend of travel) that things they want for their games (from the folks that make the game and at MRSP) are just going to be inaccessible. So sorry.

Exactly. Wanting something is not the same as being entitled to it. It's alright for people to want the repaints and be a bit disappointed if they don't get them. What doesn't make sense is taking that desire to mean you deserve it, and if you can't have it no one should.

Everyone experiences envy, but it's not healthy to let it control you.

4 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

Well, if getting to Worlds was an equal opportunity venture (like buying stuff off the shelf), both financially and geographically, I could agree.

But you're telling the guy living in Perth and the guy with limited finances (who can afford $20, but not $200 resale or a weekend of travel) that things they want for their games (from the folks that make the game and at MRSP) are just going to be inaccessible. So sorry.

And people aren't treating their gift as a gift; they are treating it as a rebate.

I don't think that kind of mojo should exist in a well-loved game. And it didn't seem to exist before alt-art miniatures. But as you say, that's just my opinion.

I live in Europe and I am not jealous of someone living 20km from ffg that had to spend next to nothing compared to me. I am happy for that person.

And that person that can afford 20 can still get an Aethersprite and play the game he/she likes and enjoy it. They dont deserve anything else from ffg than the product they bought is of the quality they promise.

The quality of the game is even improved by tournament data so they could also be thankful for the tournaments taking place even if you dont attend them yourself.

And not all that got the plo sell it. Plenty keep it as a memorably thing. Others are selling it to recover some costs so they could afford going more easily. Nothing wrong with that.

7 minutes ago, JJ48 said:

Everyone experiences envy, but it's not healthy to let it control you.

7 minutes ago, Revanur said:

And not all that got the plo sell it. Plenty keep it as a memorably thing. Others are selling it to recover some costs so they could afford going more easily. Nothing wrong with that.

All of what you guys keep say is true. The the take home message, IMHO, really is:

Perk for some, bad blood for others.

20 minutes ago, Darth Meanie said:

I don't think that kind of mojo should exist in a well-loved game. And it didn't seem to exist before alt-art miniatures.

Just now, Darth Meanie said:

Well, if getting to Worlds was an equal opportunity venture (like buying stuff off the shelf), both financially and geographically, I could agree.

But you're telling the guy living in Perth and the guy with limited finances (who can afford $20, but not $200 resale or a weekend of travel) that things they want for their games (from the folks that make the game and at MRSP) are just going to be inaccessible. So sorry.

And people aren't treating their gift as a gift; they are treating it as a rebate.

I don't think that kind of mojo should exist in a well-loved game. And it didn't seem to exist before alt-art miniatures. But as you say, that's just my opinion.

Once again, you miss that it’s because getting to Worlds is difficult that the gift has more meaning.

Your last point is based on a false premise. Selling off event exclusive stuff has been a thing this whole time. Seen plenty of alt art cards and tokens sold on the secondary market, with reasons ranging from helping pay for the trip (because, like your example, have limited finances) to price gougers. Heck, I’ve heard (and know) many players who will put their event prizes into the prize pool for a smaller tournament their involved with or running. The alt art ship isn’t the first of this.

Also, how someone treats a gift doesn’t change it from being a gift. A player’s intent as to use the Plo Starfighter doesn’t invalidate FFG’s intent.

Finally, the two guys you mention as examples start with my sympathy. Wanting to go and not being able to is tough. Like @Micanthropyre pointed out, there’s nothing wrong with that. Just don’t let it consume you. But I also agree with Micanthropyre that blaming FFG for providing the gift is entitled and is where I start to lose my sympathy. You had my sympathy to begin with, but as you have continued in this thread, you have lost it. I do feel sympathy for you for not getting that Vulture Droid alt art because you put in the effort to get it and FFG was out.

Again, what you stated is your opinion and you are free to have it. But that doesn’t mean I don’t have a right to mine.