Difference between PP holding back Nautilus and AP holding back RO

[rossi46]

Per the recent interview with PP CEO re: Nautilus production, it's clear PP views themselves very much as a company that makes complicated, PM watches... with this little "side gig" selling a couple sport SS peices. That's their legacy and they will not make more Nautilus just to meet market demand. Stern wants a situation where, when someone thinks of PP, they think 5970, not 5711. And, I mostly understand/support that.

I do think they are ignoring a distinct change to consumer taste (more casual, sporty watches in SS is clearly the future) and are probably suffering from groupthink in thinking that there will always be boatloads of buyers for their PM offerings. That said, they do have the best legacy for complicated haute horology pieces (and in PM).

When it comes to AP, however, I think it's a very different situation. Long ago AP stopped being in that same genre as PP. They accepted their fate as the holders of the RO legacy and went all-in.

What's the justification, then, for holding back production of the RO. And I mean ANY RO: 15202, 41mm and 37mm, date only and chronos. I mean, are they worried that if just anyone could walk in off the street and buy a Jumbo that somehow devalues the brand?

Because not 3 years ago I walked into the NYC boutique to get links removed from my 15300 and I tried on a 15202 that was available for sale right then and there. I certainly didn't think less of AP because the flagship model was available. AP is the RO. Why act as if there's something else to "protect" a la PP?

Would love to get other's opinions on the comparison between what PP and AP are doing vis a vis Nautilus and RO.