This isn't about ESPN or the fiduciary metaphysics of stock buybacks, but I'll put this movie rant here anyway.
As frustrating as I find WDW management to be, I think I'm even more mystified by Disney's Home Entertainment decisions.
We're all familiar with the "Disney Vault" conceit (limited time releases, drive up demand, hype, etc.). What I don't understand is how specific decisions are made about these releases.
Take for example, the Sleeping Beauty Blu-ray -- first released in 2008 and then allowed to go out of print before being re-released in 2014.
Note that both releases have the same picture and audio quality: for English speakers, there's nothing new from 2008 and 2014 with the actual feature film.
What is missing from 2014's Blu-ray are some of the supplemental features from the 2008 version, namely some segments discussing and visualizing the Sleeping Beauty Castle walkthrough at DL and, more importantly, the (Academy Award-winning) short film Grand Canyon that was released in theaters with Sleeping Beauty during its initial run.
The only way to get the short film is to buy the older, out-of-print Blu-ray (which, incidentally, is often cheaper than the new release with lesser features).
The same thing has happened with the recent Blu-ray re-release of Snow White. Same picture and audio as the older release.
But -- absent from the newer release -- the original Blu-ray had an extensive feature on Hyperion Studios including HD versions of Steamboat Willie and several Silly Symphony cartoons like The Skeleton Dance, Flowers and Trees, Music Land, and The Old Mill. I'm fairly certain none of these is included on the recent release.
In fact, there aren't any HD titles devoted to the short films; add to this, the DVD releases of the short films have gone out of print in most cases. The treasure trove of True Life Adventures hasn't been released in HD (I believe some may be available to stream), and many of the better live action films have been passed over. (How has 20,000 Leagues not gotten a Blu-ray release while we're on round two of some animated movies?)
I realize that the market for some these releases is smaller than the market for some of the full-length animated titles. But why hasn't Disney adopted an approach like Warner Archive which makes lesser-known titles available for a premium price? I thought premium prices got Mickey all hot and bothered. What gives?
TL;DR: In the last several years, Disney's handling of its older films has actually gotten worse, if that's possible.