So the question is - Are the sketch cards worth it? Without them, the set price could be lower and print run unlimited. Maybe we could get boxes, wrappers, kiss-cut etc. if the volume was high enough.
Bottom line is the sketch card business model optimal? 600 sets limit seems so low. But print run has to be balanced with set price and payout to those involved in the production.
I don't think it's clear if they're worth it or if the business model IS optimal. It seems clear from Topps' choices that they don't see another way to go with these, even if another way might exist. They may see it as perfectly clear that "this is the way". I hope not.
I've watched with fascination from the introduction of the very first Old School set, which I thought was a stroke of genius in format and value, through now.
Early on, the sketch craze overtook all else, driving up sales of boxes (but entirely in the chase for sketches), in moments seeing color sketches selling for more than original artwork, and more. Certainly the fandom (and forum chatter) was all about the sketches. The stickers, and indeed the format itself (boxes, packs, kiss-cut stickers) become an afterthought to the majority of buyers in that sketch card chase. Topps increased Old School print runs to meet the increased sketch card demand. But that demand was never about the product or its sincere and appealing format, it was the demand for sketch cards. The demand for Old School boxes of cards was never that. And when the sketch market fluctuated, Topps was left with inventory. Finally, it seemed that Topps' budgets and profit/loss reports suddenly determined that the Old School model wasn't viable anymore. And a new way forward was designed. Premium price, less charming format... but, you guessed it, more sketches! They rationally looked at what was driving big sales (and folks were buying CASES of Old School to get sketches, that was it) and they stripped most everything else from the original format away.
Hell, remember when they attempted to market entire sketch card sets (or was it just "Sketches on demand") - they stripped 100% of everything away BUT they sketches. I didn't pay it much attention, so I don't know how well that all went for them. That was Topps responding to demand in the most aggressive way.
Now, I don't think it's necessarily true the the original Old School format (boxes, packs, stickers, etc) is nonviable. I assume it still is, but it's just more investment and risk. Unless the format was never viable and Topps just ate huge losses on Old School 1 and 2, etc. Which maybe they did? It seems unlikely, because we are seeing folks release sticker sets in a very Old School way, and I assume they're at least breaking even.
I'd love to see Old School go back to the boxes and packs and kiss-cut stickers (with the enjoyment of sticking them as an option). That's me. I'll acknowledge that it's never going to be as inexpensive as it was (I think those Old School 1 boxes were only $50 each!), but lets say it was $100 a box.. we'd still be getting a lot of value there.
That said, I fear I'm in the minority. I suspect that the majority of hobbyists still care more about the sketches, and that's just where the market might be. They perhaps don't want to "waste money on boxes of swill" stickers, just to get to the sketches. Because they're not just collecting a few sketch cards, they're collecting handfuls of them. So for them, this new format is far more efficient. I just think it's utterly without that Old School charm.
But if Dave and the team at Topps can figure out a way to bring back some of the genius and charm of the original Old School releases format, I think that would be awfully damned good. And I would like to believe the hobby would be better and more vital for it, long term.
If not, I'll just keep buying base sets with Dave's gorgeous paintings printed on them from other forum members. I'll live.