Seems they are going by way of smaller scale model kits as their business model. After all, there are many thousands of scale model builders. Even here locally, they put on one heck of a contest and swap meet each year. It's packed and stacked and dealers and the public are exchanging money at a furious pace all day. People come from all the surrounding states to participate. Dayton, just up the road an hour is able to put on their own great event every year that's just as popular. Face it, it's where the numbers, money and volume is. There just aren't and likely never will be enough of us to justify the investment for the minimal return.
The serious scale modelers scoff at our impressive looking but often very inaccurate toys. The Dauntless is probably the closest thing to a true scale model. Modelers want super-detail along with accuracy. The non scale landing gear with the toy-like features is one of the worst parts of 1/18 planes. Poor overall outlines, (109E, P-38, P-40, P-47, etc.) lack of wing dihedral, overly thick and blunt flying surfaces, horrible props and the like are unacceptible to serious scale modelers. Kit forms with these issues would not be popular with modelers. It would be nearly impossible to correct these things to the serious scale modelers' standards.