[virtualritz]

The two main issues with Lego sets I have are:

The huge amount of specialized parts that are pretty useless for basic building. They're basically adornments.

Prices are insane. I.e. quantity and often quality (as in: how good is the set play-/ construction time wise) is just shite.

I usually buy competitors. Here in Germany Blue e.g. bricks have opened some stores so that's where I take my nephew.

Their sets are much more like the Lego I grew up with. Using more basic parts that exist in creative ways so the specialized/adornment meaning is derived from context, not the part itself/its shape.

Which also requires more imagination from the kids playing with this.

[robertfw]

I feel like the special parts have eased off, it was pretty bad with the bionicle stuff (which ironically are apparently what saved lego from financial difficulties), but I'd say all of the recent sets I've got (I get one a year for Christmas) going back at least 5 years have been made up of relatively generic parts, with the odd little special bit for flair.

[virtualritz]

I'm so curious why this was downvoted. Please tell me!