You have to keep in mind that Hasbro is still a corporation, with the ones in charge looking solely at character recognition in relation to character value.

Star Saber has not appeared in any cartoons in the West, in none of the films, has had no transforming figures released here, lost his chance in a popularity poll, and appeared in a niche (And unpopular) role in the IDW1 comics (A continuity that basically incorporated every random nobody, making his appearance there worthless)
Not only that, but he's an entirely new mold, with little to no room for redecos, meaning there is no room for recouping costs beyond the initial sales.

So I can honestly see it like this: Transformers team wants to make a new Star Saber, but the big wigs make note that he's not classic G1 and hasn't appeared in the West. So they compromise. If they can sell 11,000 copies to the fans via crowdfunding, that could open the gateway for Japanese characters at smaller scales.
Guys like Lio Convoy (Who would only be Voyager at best), Big Convoy (Leader), Dezarus (Commander to Leader)

It also makes sense to pick Star/Victory Saber from a monetary standpoint, too. He's the only character large enough to warrant this level of asking price.

We just got guys like Doubledealer and Sky Lynx in large expensive size classes which would only sell to hardcore fans or on their own merits. I think Star Saber would be just fine.

All this means is that the figure is way more expensive and way less available. It's a terrible deal and the only thing it'll 'encourage' Hasbro to do in future if it succeeds is to get away with even more rubbish.

The only redeco possibility I see is a theoretical "Nemesis Saber"!

The most recent iteration in the West is probably the Manga reprints, which I still see on BAM and Barnes and Noble shelves.

If they really want to push Japanese-Exclusive characters, they need to re-release the Trilogy of Headmasters, Masterforce, and Victory. The SHOUT! DVDS are the best way in the West, but they're out-of-print!

They have found ways to market homages of Black Shadow and Overlord (to say the least) in the main line before, so it isn't impossible.

I do fear that marketing lesser-known G1 characters is indicative of weakened imagination and will only lead to increased oversaturation of G1 (though we crossed that threshold a long time ago)! Is Hasbro even trying to engineer new and fresh ideas anymore? That being said, I would love to see some of the Japanese Trilogy characters on shelves with marginally affordable prices which don't cost as much as the original figures of said characters. It would also help some in the general public see that there is more to Transformers than just Optimus Prime and Bumblebee.

Sky Lynx was a reoccurring character in the G1 cartoon. Despite his odd design, I feel he falls under the "Safe" category for the higher ups.
Doubledealer was an oddity, having not appeared in the US cartoon. Really, all he ever had was his original toy and a scant few appearances in the UK comic. So I'll give you that one.

I guess I'm just optimistic. I'm looking through the lens of "Maybe this will open the flood gates!" rather than "Ugh, Hasbro just trying to get more money than they're worth."
It could legitimately be the latter, but I guess I'm just remaining hopeful :lol

I just heard about the new Star Saber. I had an old DVD of him.

I-

Oh my god, why...

https://i.imgur.com/h4B16uZ.jpg

What's wrong?

I'm also confused.

What "old DVD" are you referring to? I do hope you're not thinking of the Star Saber from Armada, which isn't the same as the Star Saber from Victory.

He's a HasLab. Which is, what?

Well, it's not technically a traditional DVD per se. It's a thing basically here that some markets sell pirated CDs and I had one where it was a compilation of several Transformers stuff.

*shrugs* What the heck is a HasLab. Really, I am dead serious. Is it one of those crowdfunding projects?

Exactly that actually. They want to make the thing, if enough people pre-order it they'll make it, otherwise not.

As to why someone like Hasbro does this - mostly to get niche stuff out there to test the waters. Star Saber wouldn't really fly off the shelves so they’ll make him like this and if he does better than expected maybe more JP G1 stuff later.