By Matt Underwood Lego announces its most expensive set ever with this $1,000 Star Wars Death Star, and the internet is ablaze with opinions. It’s hard to ignore the sheer price tag, and the immediate reaction seems to be a mixed bag of excitement and disbelief. A thousand dollars is a serious investment for a toy, even one as beloved as Lego. The most common gripe is that, well, it’s not even the *whole* Death Star. It’s just a slice.
This isn’t just about the money; it’s about the perceived value. For a grand, many people are expecting a complete sphere, something that truly captures the iconic nature of the Death Star. The fact that this set seems to be a flat slice of the space station is, for many, a deal-breaker. The lack of spherical completeness, it is said, makes it less impressive, even at the impressive piece count of over 9000.
Of course, there are those who are already picturing the “I spent a thousand dollars on a Lego Death Star” YouTube videos. It’s easy to imagine the thrill of the build and the display potential, but it also brings to mind the vulnerability of such a large investment. A playful jab at the risks involved – a single errant child, or even a misplaced piece, could potentially lead to a sense of disappointment.
Some are asking the obvious questions, like “Is this really the most expensive set?” and point out that there are Lego fanatics out there, those who spend fortunes on the hobby. There is a world of rich Lego enthusiasts, the collectors driven by the fear of missing out. It’s these whales, the ones who will snap up the latest and greatest, who are the target market for such a high-priced set. This segment, who have vast collections, isn’t always a new phenomenon.
The narrative quickly shifts to nostalgia and how times have changed. Once an affordable toy, Lego has become a luxury item. It’s a sentiment shared by many who grew up with the brand, now confronted with the price tags of modern sets. There’s a sense of the changing landscape, where sets often cater to specific intellectual properties, like Star Wars, with price points to match. The sets at the Lego store are now centered around IP, like a Star Wars set, with prices starting high.
The question of value returns, however. For a thousand dollars, people are expecting detail, perhaps a level of precision and completeness that the “slice” design simply doesn’t deliver. There’s talk about whether these sets are limited runs, and the feeling that these prices are reaching a level of gouging. This sentiment is echoed by those who expected more.
The disappointment with the lack of completeness is a recurring theme. Many are perplexed that this isn’t a complete Death Star, especially when other large Lego sets like the Eiffel Tower or the Titanic are complete and even taller. The scale also becomes a concern, with the Death Star set appearing not as well-scaled in comparison to other Lego models. The comparison to the Titanic set, which is also expensive, highlights the feeling that the price might not align with what’s being offered.
The set’s size, while impressive in terms of piece count, doesn’t necessarily translate into the immersive experience that many desire. The interior rooms, the scale compared to minifigures, and the overall impression of being incomplete feed into the disappointment. The unfinished nature, akin to the second Death Star in the Star Wars films, adds to the perceived flaws. This whole thing is just a big slap in the face.
There’s a hint of a desire for Lego to fail in its high-priced endeavor. A sentiment that the price is too high and that the model is disappointing. There is even a suggestion to purchase two of these, simply to resemble a sphere. The consensus, for the most part, is that this is an advertisement rather than a Lego set.
However, the pull of Lego and the Star Wars franchise is strong. There are those who, despite their initial reservations, admit they might still purchase the set. The draw of the hobby, combined with a well-paying job, is enough to outweigh the price concerns. The desire to own an official version of the Death Star, even a partial one, is powerful.
The lack of affordability, the price, and the feeling of missing out, are all valid points. The design and format of the set is a major deterrent. This Death Star is a far cry from a $1,000 dream. Some people prefer the cheaper options out there. Ultimately, the $1,000 set seems to have missed the mark.