Have to agree with a certain extent. While the old AOG models are a total PITA when in comes to assembling and cleanup work, once you finally DO get them done up they look rather nice.
Its a step in the right direction in the very least. I was quite impressed with the Z'Takk, and thats about as optimal as one can expect with going overboard with the analness.
So yes, while by and large the models are improving overall, the only are where theres been a downward trend is the detailing of the model. Its qutite easily fixed, and there is simply NO WAY Mongoose would put in all the work towards getting 2 ed near perfect and then screw up the mini's, nobodys that retarded.
Actually, if had to get my secretest extra-special wish, they would make swap out kits to diffentiate one variant ship for another be using a base mini for both.
Take the Omega for example. Make a standard hull form for the Omega, but leave certain things like the front weapons area, the sides and top of the superstructure, and the engines, I.E all the detail as seperate peices.
Sell the Hull form standalone, and then sell the variant detail peices standalone, one set for a regular Omega, another set for a Command Omega, yet another for a Pulse Omega.
What this means? Anyone experienced with Magnets and some modelling skill will be able to swap one detail set for another using the same hull form.
I would still sell both a Hull form and one set of detail peices as a packaged complete ship for the non-modeling inclined of course, probably cheaper than buying seperate. Prices being what they are, I still think most modelers would jump at the chance to use swappable manafactured peices rather than their own kitbash.s