someone said either here or on another thread, that the line itself wont be ending, LOTR swords are going to be around for a long long time, maybe not anything new, but let me finish
Anarion just mentioned the scabbards, while I havent gotten any, I do plan on it (well I do have the Elven knife sheath, but it came with the knife). for instance, its kinda hard to dress up as witchking for halloween or a costume party if you dont have a scabbard for your sword
I believe I said this a few months ago, or i thought i said it, was the fact that UC capitalized on LOTR's popularity and flooded the market. there are collectors like me that want every peice (especially blades) but my wallet and savings account cant keep up with the speed at which things were/are released. I will buy the Rohan blades, LFK, ringwraith sword the sheilds and other things and other blades that are left (if the LE's havent sold out by then) but believe me UC, i will buy them just give me a chance to get to them.
Saying that, I also collect/ed the Legends in Steel series, Hibben annuals, Swords of the Ancients, Kit Rae's daggers, and others (like Dragonheart and Excalibur) so i have to think long and hard for each purchase... i even print out pictures and prices and show them to my mom for her advice
Now with that, Kit also mentioned that if an MC shards was made, it would be a "few years" down the line, that to me says the LOTR line will in someway be open in 3 + years. now to me, to heighten popularity, i think, to make people hunger for a new sword is put out what is in development... ok now a year or 2 with NO new products, release something else... then a year later release something else, now we are gonna be in the year 2010 and we are still gonna be foaming at the mouths for that yearly LOTR sword (people still do it for the Hibben annuals 15 years later).
This is the same scenerio as what we talk about in the Trek section... kill the franchise for a few years, and let people REALLY want it, let it take a break and then bring it back.
Thats just what I think.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.