I've been wanting this figure from the first preview images we saw. However, after feeling a bit burned by the vast differences between the Medicom TIE Pilot prototype and production figure, I decided to wait until people started posting their in hand pictures. Fortunately, the production figure looks just as good as the prototype, so I'll most likely end up buying this once my most recent credit card payment clears (I pay the money into my credit card, then use the card for the purchase, this way I build up my credit rating AND get rewards points).
It's nice to know that the holster is easily removable, because taking that off will probably be the first thing I do. And the height issue doesn't bother me too much, since this will be the only 12" figure in my collection right now. If it does get to be an issue later, then there is an easy fix. I bought Hasbro's 12" TIE Pilot, back in 1997, and became bothered by the height after a little while, so I ended up using a Dremel tool to cut about 1/8" to 1/4" out of the legs, mid-thigh, then used short metal rods and super-glue to reattach the legs and it worked perfectly. That seems a little drastic for a $200 figure, so I'll probably look into getting a spare body to modify, just in case I screw it up.
Oh yeah, and the blank top for the base is actually a plus, it makes it much more likely that I will actually use it. If there was a giant Star Wars logo plastered across the top of the base, then I wouldn't even bother taking it out of the box. Either way, I might still pick out a different base later; but only because those "crotch cradle" bases look a bit bizarre. I prefer the bases with a ring that clips around the figure's waist.
