...what would it be?

For me, that's easy. With the inclusion of the alternate unmasked head for Beach Head, Hasbro really set the bar high.

Alternate heads! Lots of 'em.

Some characters should have unmasked heads included. Torpedo, Storm Shadow, Snake-Eyes, Destro, Wild Weasel, Barbecue, and even Cobra Commander.

Some characters should have alternate skin tone heads included. Why just one flesh tone for Cobra troops? Why not at least one other to diversify the ranks- and make the figures a bit more believable, too. This would also make them look less like clones.

Some traditionally helmet-less characters need helmets. Scarlett is the best example. The "Glenda" Scarlett has a removable helmet and that's a good start. But it's oversized compared to what the '82 helmets would look like. Why not give Scarlett one head w/hair and one with just the ponytail popping out from the back of the helmet. While I don't think it's been seen anywhere before, why not a Baroness head with a black officer's helmet on it?

What would you insist that the line do to suit your tastes?

Or a Baroness with a pilot helmet and or gas mask.

One of my biggest complaints is that Hasbro keeps missing the mark on "definitive" figs. I'd like a figure with proper articulation, proper paint, and proper accessories. The near miss thing drives me nuts.

I'd make them shorter, allowing them to blend in with virtually every other incarnation of the 3-3/4" line, and fit better in already produced vehicles and playsets. Its my only real pet peeve... aside from the tiny, out of proportion heads on some and skinny legs on many.

That horrible chest articulation. It needs to be more like the Marvel figures or covered over with vests and stuff. The "man-boobs" look needs to go.

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I would have the upper torso held together with a screw instead of the sonic welding thus making them easier to customize.

Kama

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Pretty much that. Or make them couple bucks cheaper

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Double ditto

Swivel thighs. I love that articulation on the few figs that had it.

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Kamakura. They needed a new update of him.

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I torn between that and having the waist/stomach sections be two different pieces...

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I'd make the sculpting more realistic. More realistic faces, more detailed details like medals, watches, etc. I'd also like someone to mess with the protos to see if the articulation actually enables naturalistic (and cool) poses. I'd also like something like a standard buck for most figures, just so that things like heads etc. are swappable without having to figure out how to lengthen X's neck so Y's head will not only fit but look good on him. (That wouldn't apply to figures like Roadblock who should be bigger than most other characters.)

Now, if we're talking total fantasy land here, then I'd like all figures to be designed to come apart and be interchangeable. Hate Duke's arms? Pop 'em off and and put Snake Eyes' on.

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all of the above more or less

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For me...as Yojoe-a-go-go stated...all the above.

For my son...he would just like them to all have fixed waists that they sit properly in the previous line's vehicles.

More interchangeable is the main thing I would want. That was something I really loved about the original line. Double hinged elbows would be nice and double ball jointed shoulders would be cool too (like the most recent Microman figures) but I could live without those to keep the price down. If they had started shorter that would have been great but at this point I'm too far in to start over with shorter figures.

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I'm too far in with Joe figs in general to really start over with taller figures

I'm torn trying to make just one choice, as there are several improvements that could be made. Height is one, but I can live with some slight height differences with my Joes, since it can be disguised thru various posing and photographic techniques. It's not like the figures are always standing up straight right next to each other.

The only real exception I'm making to that rule will be my Vera Montspek figure, which will be made from a spare Lady J I have to replace a stolen custom. Since pretty much all my existing customs are old school, I'm going to chop some length off her legs and glue 'em back, since I think it looks goofy to have her towering over all the male figures.

Interchangeability would be nice too, especially for customs. But I've decided to get around it by making most of my new customs from existing figures, limiting my part swaps to mostly heads.

I guess the one change I can't implement so easily is the lousy range of motion in most of the arms. This doesn't apply to Resolute Duke and, from what I hear, the movie figures, so it sounds like that change is being implemented.

Then of course, there's that price thing... But in some ways, buying fewer figures as a result is a good thing

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