The new box with eight minis is apparently priced to be more self-sustaining for future printings (fewer minis, paper maps help). Hopefully it works out
Hopefully it will.
Being unable to just point people at a beginner product has severly hurt the influx of new players in my region. It usually goes "Total Warfare, a Technical Readout and four (metal) mechs cost WHAT together?" and then many people look into other games. :(
As for cons, it's perfectly fine that boxes are sold at cons. A one/two per person (maybe per day) limit on buys would be good too, with 'no limits' buying on the later half of the last day to ensure all stock is gone.
What I believe could have been handled better was the timing - on a convention, you've got to show your product from the best side to look better than the competition. Instead of rushing production, causing quality issues, CGL could have focussed on making the beginner box available in the required quality and could then have released the COAG box at another con.
Then again, I've yet to see a non-FASA release of an intro box go right. ;)