Just curious, considering the kits they have released thusfar:

Sherman Firefly (British armor )
T34/ 76 mm (Russian armor )
M24 Chaffee (US armor, other than sherman )
Sd. Kfz. 234/2 Puma (German wheeled vehicles)
Sd. Kfz. 124 Wespe (German self propelled artillery )
M-7 Priest (US self propelled artillery )

And coming:

Morris CS8, Jeep and 17 pounder (British softskins and AT guns )
Char B1 bis and Renault FT17 (French armor)
Churchill AVRE (British engineering vehicle )

Now, I have been thinking: Are the matchbox re releases actually a tool to measure the market for given categories ?

Think about it: you can easily gauge the market with some old kits, and not to have to spend money on new tooling ....

I know I would do it this way.. what are your thoughts ?

The Matchbox kits have always been in demand from small scale modelers. When Revell issued some of the old Matchbox kits as 1/72 scale in the combo-packs, modelers were in an uproar because these old kits were being passed off in the new line. But they were also greatful that the old Matchbox kits were available once again.

This is why they started to reissue the Matchbox kits again. They are still popular. Modelers just didn't like them being passed off as 1/72 scale kits. Although no on really raises an eyebrow over Airfix's 1/72-1/76-OO scales.