Well, here is my take on fan funding, do whit it what you will.
I want obscure unpopular stuff. With the latest 2015 release list from IWM I have everything I want from the dark age as far as mechs go already coming down the pipe. There are a few tanks i might be interested in, but that's it. A lot of the 3075 stuff that is not done yet and the final 3085 reseens all interest me, as does the Pollux ADA tank from LOT2...
I'm mainly interested in seeing a full range of mech-scale fighters for the original AT, 2750, any remaining clan fighters and a few other ASF relics like the Typhoon.
After that; some of the XTRO stuff interests me; with the Soarace (sp?) superheavy tank at the top of that list, followed, frankly by the Scorpion LAM and the Liberator. And no; I do not care even a little that they are failed, unplayable designs. Minis are very much about the rule of cool, empowering a neat and fun story for me; the rules serve that, not the other way around.
I have a very limited taste for resculpts; with that list headed by the Centurion (but, frankly, only if it follows the 3025/Mech Commander Asthetic of being tall and menacing) and the Mackie (HB:SL version). I have all the pity in the world for those other minis suffering from BIG GIANT HEAD syndrome; like the Highlander, but frankly I feel efforts are better spent on improving existing minis with things like more Omni parts and just *better* parts. There are more than a few *very* good minis that have one thing glaringly wrong with their legs or arms for instance; usually proportion.
I have exactly no time for resculpting minis ad naseum because they are *not in scale*. DO NOT CARE.
And I have little interest in any of the top six, frankly outside liking to see APC minis so I could grab a pack someday, if it was convenient. Better yet; buying them for cheap, individually from IWM, as I do with the Prowler, Ingis, rotunda, Beagle, ect, every time I place an order.
That said; if Fan finance is open when next I have disposable income, I will be investing it and I do see it as an investment, in this program.
For three reasons;
1. I feel this is good for the game in particular and the hobby in general. Has anyone else ever done this for their fans? I'd be shocked if they had.
2. Supporting other people, when I can and promoting this attitude is my only chance to ever see any of the stuff I am interested in; I am invested emotionally in this program and I want it to keep going, at least until "all the holes are filled in".
3. I am going to be giving IWM my money anyways, what is a short detour into FF credit? I still get the credit to spend on minis anyways, right?
Suffice to say that my tastes are not likely to be widely shared, but I love this hobby and the FF Credit system is a massive incentive. I mean, it's not like if I put cash towards the Highlander or Zeus, I get that $ value in Highlander or Zeus Minis; I can put it to whatever I want on the webstore.
Sure, maybe I am being a little idealistic; essentially backing an honour system on faith, but as I said above; I have my reasons.