I'm highly critical of the attitude "new is better". To me, it's the quality of the painting that counts. Next time we'll just get some basecoated figures presented and everybody is going to say "hey, they're new so they get my vote." 
you are absolutely right, but sadly, I am a child of this consumerism time, and I want more and more every day, quantity over quality : GIVE ME MY FIX OF FRESH HOT LEAD !
Sorry,
Matt