Just goes to show how poorly Mattel does business...but it is also the retailer that has to order said item's.
If item's are on the pegs/shelves too long and get discounted the retailer will not order as much next time or any at all.
It is all about business.
I am sure plenty of the MASTERS lines were made .. many will either go to other parts of the World or get bought up by toy wholesalers.
Toy Liquidator's was / is one company many years ago that would by trailer loads of toys from BRAND manufacturer's at discounted price's.
Better to sell unwanted inventory to someone , than put in landfills .