He's kind of growing on me.

One question: just how do these people on ebay get their hands on these prototypes? Doesn't Hasbro or Takara Keep track of these items? Of course, that's just my opinion.

They don't. Nobody on eBay has a -prototype-. They have test shots.

 

The prototype is the original version (usually hand-made), used to create the molds.

 

The things on eBay are the pieces cast to test those molds (hence the term, "test shot"), to make sure the finished pieces work properly, and that the mold doesn't have any major defects.

why pay US $202.50 for a guy thats gonna be 1/4 that price in a few months?

.....And have much much more coloring to boot. I will be getting him one way or another, but its going to be damn hard to smuggle the box anywhere GAH!