Martin CAN, of course, make exactly what they want, including models that will capture some of the "low end" market- they can also "outsource" assembly to Mexico- both of which will water down the brand. Words like "legendary" and "unique" will soon no longer apply to their brand name, they will no longer be considered the "state of the art", and they will be just another homogenized big company like so many others. This saddens me, and although I know it's the way of the world, I still don't think it's OK. Change is NOT always good, and some traditions do not HAVE to die in the name of "progress". But they didn't ask me for my opinion, anyway. The whole thing is moot for me, since I will die with my hands wrapped around my funky, beat-up, wonderful 1946 D-28 (to paraphrase one of my favorite Norman Blake songs). BTW, thanks to ddw for providing one of our most interesting music-related threads of late.