I was browsing through the Games Workshop site ( as you do

) and noticed that most of the Lord of the Rings Infantry box sets now only come with 12 models. ( 4 of each type of model, archer, warrior and warrior with shield )
They used to have twice that amount (24), not only have they decreased the amount per box but they have put the price up (surprise surprise). In Australia for the box of 24 it was $55 ( thats equal to 37 pounds or 60 American dollars ). Now for the 12 its $37 ( 25 pounds or 40 American dollars ) and there only 2 part snap together models.
What the heck was Games Workshop trying to do? There making it harder to have a resonable force and it would cost a heck of alot of money if your trying to play War of the Ring ( the larger version of the Strategy Battle game where you pay points for bases of 8 models ) and you would have to buy two boxes to be able to make a single base of each type.
For a new player to get into the game they would have to spend a load of money (and the starter set isn't even that good), with The Hobbit coming out soon there is likely to be atleast a few. At my
FLGS I could get the box of 24 models for $38.50 ( $40 US or 25 pounds )and still can while the stocks last but when they run out and the new 12 model boxes replace them I'm going to have spend around double to get the same amount of models.
I'm sure some of you out there are just waiting for Lord of the Rings to die out, well its got its oportunity now.
In addition the new Finecrap command sets that are a being released are a whopping $66 dollars for 4 models ( $70 US or 45 pounds ). I dont see anyone buying those, most will probably try to get the remaining metals off ebay.
Has
GW shot itself in the foot again? (its must be starting to look like cheddar cheese) What are your thoughts?