I know many of the people behind this project, and I know their love and passion for Muppets (and for Disney, and for Star Wars and all the other licenses they work on). I see this Kermit replica as a loyal tribute to what Mr Henson spent his life creating. Kermit is a living character on his own, and a product of this calibre really captures the essence of Muppetdom.
I have a mini bronze statue at home of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse, it's based on the statue in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. It's Walt standing, holding Mickey's hand, pointing into the horizon. I own it, because it's a tribute to another brilliant man who dedicated his life to creating magic for people of all walks of life. I see the same thing in this Kermit replica. It's a respectful tribute to a character and the man who created him.
Sure, it's the responsibility of any business to make a profit, but the folks at MR got into this because of their passion and dedication to entertainment, and the tangible pieces that make it so real. MR is dedicated to its fans, and listens very closely, and always does what they can to respect the wishes and vision of the vast majority of their fans.
I'll bet the shirt on my back that Kermit will be one of the most successful pieces Master Replicas has sold.
And we're not talking about huge production numbers. This is PURE speculation, but I bet we'll only see about 1500 - 2000 of these. I dont know the price either, but I see them priced at a level where those purchasing it will treat it with dignity and respect, and will cherish it as a keepsake of something that represents a major part of their life.
Unfortunately, we'll never know how Mr Henson would have felt about this, but I think in this day and age of consumerism, and the impact licensing and products sales has on the life of a property, he would have supported a quality item such as this, that maintains the dignity of the property, and breathes a bit of financial support into it as well.