Quote - How on earth can I be missing my own point?! Is it really unrealistic to expect a company to consider promoting its own products a good thing?

 

yes, to be perfectly blunt it is highly unrealistic to expect SM to have financed the development of a 'medieval wardrobe' for Tyler's launch.

and for the record SM did contact merchants long in advance, gave away incentives and made many efforts to get people on board.  you cannot fault merchants for being reluctant to work with a 3rd party figure when all most customers want to buy is V4 items.

again, since it doesnt seem to be getting through:  merchants make what customers buy. its the way all commerce works - always has, always will. if you want a certain type of item, start buying it and rendering gallery renders with it.