C'mon people, one bust or statue out of many many successful ones does not dictate whether or not all the other ones are going to be awful.
Let's remember all the fine pieces SS has done, including many busts, throughout the years, and within the last year. All successful, mint, high end collectable pieces. And their customer service has been exceptional.
I do agree that the IM bust was, well, a bust. Am I disappointed in SS for this release? Yes. Does it mean all their others will be like this? Absolutely NOT. They are not a fly by night company, they are still a company that does care about their product and quality.
I wish they handled the IM bust scenario better. I wish they had numbered them. But they did not.
They will learn from this, and they will improve.
As a result, I have faith in them, and I have ordered the exc Vader bust. It did not even cross my mind.
And as for starting this thread, as long as it does not get insulting and offensive like some can, this is an opportunity for SS to listen to their customers in order to improve their QC.