What's the "Play" with Pre-orders? Why now? Where will it go?

$20 on joe vs dan · 2020-08-25T18:40:41.000Z

I have my thoughts on this; but LEGO set Pre-orders seems to be gaining a lot of steam at LEGO Shop at Home as well as even Amazon. So far in 2020, pre-orders seem to have had the illusion of being exclusive; but only to result in anything but that...well at least I haven't been able to "cash-in" on any of them. Some here has pointed out that it allows LEGO to gauge interest and schedule manufacturing accordingly. For me personally, teh pre-orders typically catch me off guard...I commit them easily due to FOMO and spending "tomorrow dollars" and when they hit, I found myself almost always regretting the $ commitment and realizing that by the time I get it in my hands...already no chance of QFLL for any reasonable return. Maybe others have had different thoughts and experiences and hopefully will share.