My first reaction was "oooo I want it all. Maybe I should get the Phoenix $60 bundle I wasn't going to buy and upgrade with Saber".
I mulled it over a few minutes, had to return my thoughts to work-related matters, and came back to it this morning.
Verdict: I won't be buying Phoenix nor Saber. I am really interested in the original mechs in Phoenix package, but Saber mechs are 'meh' from a game-play perspective. If the packages had included iconic mechs like Phoenix Hawk, Rifleman, Warhammer, Marauder, I would've thrown $110 in an instant. Yes, I know, unseen. reseen. yadda yadda.
All in all, I've spent a mere $60 for my founders pack, built up a stable of 12 or so mechs (all mastered), and don't really see the need to spend another $80/$110 on a bunch of Inner Sphere mechs. I'm getting my money's worth with what I have now. I believe PGI will make MWO better, in time. That time, unfortunately, isn't today. I will definitely consider buying something post-launch, once UI2.0 and CW is in place. Hopefully by that time, clan tech will be available and perhaps then I will consider plunking down $80 for a dasher/uller/vulture/daishi combo.
One thing that I would've loved is if the Phoenix+Saber mechs were made available a la carte, perhaps as hero mechs. Or perhaps allow the customer a choice of picking the mechs for a custom package. (I'd only be interested in the Thunderbolt and Battlemaster)
-Edit 9/16/2013-
I had a complete 180 moment last week and plunked down $80 for the overlord. My reasoning behind this is that it is the ONLY Mechwarrior game in town. I want this to succeed. I want this game to be around for a while. I understand that the game is in progress, and the developers are trying to cater to the greater gaming community, not just the die-hard BT fans. I've decided that I'm ok with that as long as things continue to get better. Here, take my $80 and put it to good use please. I may find annoyances with a feature, a patch, or a nerf, but it is still a BT game. I'll exercise my patience, and let PGI do their best to impress the masses. I hope the effort also manages to please me along the way.
Edited by Onij74, 16 September 2013 - 12:01 PM.