[FallenOne]

One thing to keep in mind when comparing Joes to MU... Hasbro owns GI Joe outright. They don't have to pay any licensing or royalty fees to anybody. It's their property and they keep everything they make off of it. With MU (and any other property that Hasbro licenses rather than owns), they have to pay the licensor (Marvel in this case) a cut just for the right to make the toys, plus a percentage on whatever the sales are. This likely has something to do with the difference in "value" between Joe and MU. Hasbro can afford to include a shit ton more accessories in the Joe line.

That said, I don't know that that completely explains the reason behind dropping the stands. And not having the stands included any more sucks.