I'm not saying they should lose money. However maybe other consumers got smart and didn't want to pay $30 for 3 episodes anymore which caused great companies like ADV to go under but I'd still put it on them (the companies). Of course the economy taking a huge downturn doesn't help anything. Who has the extra cash to buy all this? People will save and buy the series they really like of course. I knew licensing was expensive but didn't realize it was that expensive. That is insane.
An example though: I sell apples for $2.00 a piece. I decide to do a price cut and sell them for $1.50 a piece. Hmm I will probably start selling more apples which would bring in more money. Lousy analogy I know but work with me here. 
I understand those companies like to release the DVDs individually because it's a great money maker if people actually buy them (and crazy anime fans definitely do) but I don't see how they don't realize a complete box set is what everyone (*assuming*) wants. I don't buy individual DVDs/Blu-Rays of live action TV shows. I buy seasons or complete box sets. It's how I like to purchase my anime also. To me it is common sense but sadly most companies/corporations lack that.
Don't get me wrong though, I love anime and I like to support the industry when I can. I'm currently going to school on a grant. I don't have a lot of extra income. You seem to keep putting everything on your (I think it's you anyway) "to buy" list. I would totally do that if I could. I would definitely buy everything I wanted if it was possible for me to do so and hopefully in the not-too-distant future I can. But a lot of it comes down to buying-sense also. I am one of those who will usually wait for a complete box set.
And once again I'm not trying to start an e-fight or attack you personally I'm just voicing my opinion.
First off, it wasn't consumers getting "smart". It was people converting to being leeches. A big problem in the anime community right now is entitled fans, and these people who won't buy no matter how much they loved a show, even if they were paid to buy it. They don't see the point in buying this stuff, and many are as stupid as to say "I have no anime DVD's, but I have a TB of illegally downloaded anime. I supported the Japanese companies.". I have met people like this, and believe me, it's sad to see what's happened to the fandom in North America. It's gotten worse than when I got into this stuff heavily almost 3 years ago.
Now other countries, I can understand why people would pirate. Other countries get the short end of the stick, and so many titles take so much longer to get released, or don't get released there at all. We have way more titles compared to other countries.
Also ADV Films is still here, they're now Sentai Filmworks. Many of their things are still here, including NGE and The Anime Network.
Also, with apples, it's something
everyone buys. Anime is a
niche market. How many people buy anime versus video games? Yeah, not many. It has to be priced this much for them to make more money. In the case of anime, make it cheaper than it is now, and it'll make
less money despite more people buying.
Also here's my argument on complete sets. Here's why those come out later. Fans want these shows as fast as possible (Hence one reason why fansubs exploded in popularity many years back.), so the company releases them in parts which is both faster and safer (As in, if it bombs, they won't lose as much money on it because parts cost less money to make.). They know people want those complete sets, and that's why they give it to them, except for some companies. VIZ Media didn't do anything like that for Monster as they released 13 episodes and stopped. Why? It sold poorly (Due to something VIZ couldn't control, lack of the original intro music.), and yet people to this day still stupidly go "I won't buy from them again until they finish Monster-which is like 100 some episodes-.". How can they finish Monster if you're not buying from them so they can get the money to do that?:facepalm:
However as nice as complete box sets are (I really like them. That's what I mostly have.), they take more time, more money, and are more risky. FUNimation license-rescued the insanely popular and critically acclaimed (Higurashi) When They Cry anime series.
But guess what happened when those complete box sets came out (One ended up being much cheaper.)-it was originally released in 6 singles by Geneon Entertainment who no longer exists here-? It sold so poorly they had to drop the title (Along with Zero no Tsukaima AKA The Familiar of Zero which was in the same boat, and from the same license-rescue deal.), and it pissed off a lot of people (However those who didn't buy, and just pirated have no right to complain.).
Also on the buying thing, yes I put a lot of shows on my "to buy" list. I love supporting practically every show I liked. Even though I don't have a job (Which pisses me off to no end-it's a long story.), I try to find ways to make money. That's how I got most of the anime below (Some I got on my birthday, from other people, etc.), from lawn-mowing.
http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae206/FlameHaze92/My manga and anime collection/FILE1159.jpg
http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae206/FlameHaze92/My manga and anime collection/FILE1153.jpg
http://i972.photobucket.com/albums/ae206/FlameHaze92/My manga and anime collection/FILE1155.jpg
(That's my entire collection, and most of it was established over the Summer.)
I'm hoping to sometime soon buy these two things with the money I made from that yardwork (I haven't been payed yet unfortunately.) I did for my parents.
http://www.rightstuf.com/cgi-bin/catalogmgr/S7ryr4-UgmkgrXiKll/browse/item/92218/4/0/0 -Note, this is an import. It's being sold at an import price as since it was released here the same day as Japan, they need a way to stop what's known as "reverse-importation".
http://www.rightstuf.com/1-800-338-6827/catalogmgr/S7ryr4-UgmkgrXiKll/browse/item/92632/4/0/0
Wow, this became an essay. As you can see, I'm very passionate on various issues with anime, especially prices and why the anime industry here is crumbling. I think it should be ended at this. We don't want bigger essays in here.
i think my Ps3 does better with this certain video player than my laptop.
