Yeah I feel like stuff like this was at least 15% of humour back then

Now to be fair there isn't zero play value here, the platform spins which is a good trick to be sure, but again, is it worth it for the increased complexity and price? I can't see many kids either asking for this set specifically or getting it as a gift, vs a more accessible or recognizable one

Take this set for instance, it was CAD$25 when it released in 2020, and features only 208 pieces for a simpler, but still functional design, especially since it has moving parts and more 'play' value.

I feel like it's possible, you just need to trim the beard down to the same level as the rest of the fur then it would blend in, probably with something like this:

Why swap