Great Marketing Idea!
Ignore the complainers and fools. [Fool: definition; Thinks ALL people and customers must have the same exact needs, desires, and reasons that he/she does.]
While it is true that better than 95% of a product will be purchased and used as a tool, there has always been a market for collectors. This is a nice marketing idea.
Many other companies do it. There were limited run custom builds of cars, signature guitars, limited retro cameras, high end Ferrari Laptop computers, tool boxes, and many other items. No reason that Prusa can't have a little fun with this. The right people WILL buy them.
And, next year, can be 50 models built with Walnut or Rosewood.
Cheers,
Neal
RE: Great Marketing Idea!
The common denominator of the limited/custom/signature editions you mention is that a product first makes a major impact in the market and becomes famous/desirable, because it is unique or innovative, and later is honored by a collector's edition. I would totally get a collector's edition of the Prusa i3 -- that platform has really shaped home 3D printing. But the Core One has not proven itself in any notable way yet.
Maybe the Core One will eventually make a lasting impact once the Bondtech INDX technology is added. (Which, ironically, will not be supported by the Signature Oak printers.) But until that happens, the Signature Oak is more on par with the "smartphone encrusted in Swarovski crystals" concept: A short-lived consumer product clad in a casing which tries to shout "exclusive! valuable!", but which does not have much merit as a collectible.
next year, can be 50 models built with Walnut or Rosewood.
Aww, cmon ... what's wrong with chocolate?
Cheerio,