The dolls I had as a kid were not the collectible variety-they were the ones that were affordable, you could get lots of outfits and accessories for, like today’s Barbie-and that made them fun to make up scenarios involving occupations, hobbies, etc.
I’m sure that discontinuing a doll makes it more expensive, but I don’t see an ordinary parent, strapped for cash in a bad economy buying those expensive dolls for a little girl...
I did have some toys that were the display kind, but those were little dinosaur skeleton kits that I put together-they came with glue, stands, plants, trees and scenery to make little vignettes-they were cool.
My dolls as a kid were not expensive either....