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The writers of Darkwing Duck on The Disney Afternoon had an awful lot of fun messing with DW's origin story, the facts of which always changed up in different episodes, and led everyone to realize it's more fun NOT to know, and just "go with it"! Well, here's the origin of the show itself, and the source is more than credible... it's from Mike Peraza, who really designed and set the tone for the series.

Most of us know, that Darkwing Duck began as a proposed spin-off of a popular DuckTales episode "Double-O-Duck" Here's a sketch from one of Peraza's early presentation boards, where you can see Double-O/Darkwing resembled Donald pretty closely:

http://i1197.photobucket.com/albums/aa436/DuckburgUSA/darkwing_launchpad_fortune_web.jpg

Like the DuckTales episode, the initial concept of the Double-O-Duck series featured Launchpad as the star of the show! Things obviously changed in development, and I'm glad LP stayed in the mix... he's really a great character on his own merits (and not just a Donald Duck stand-in).

Here's the link to the post: Double-O-Darkwing

If you like Disney animation take a good browse and read ALL the posts within, because there's a lot of new information to absorb. Mike's also got a 4-part series of posts on the evolution of DuckTales, with some wonderful concept and layout art:

Days of DuckTales Part 1

Days of DuckTales Part 2

Days of DuckTales Part 3

Days of DuckTales Part 4

You'll note that Peraza is very gracious, and quick to give credit to others. He rightfully credits the very talented character artist Toby Shelton, as the one who refined DW's final design (I feel the show features the greatest character designs of all of "The Disney Afternoon" properties). Toby's blog is really great too, jam-packed with artwork from Disney and beyond... it deserves a good look: http://tobyshelton.blogspot.com/

Since the very talented James Silvani has begun to post around here, maybe Mike Peraza and Toby Shelton would be willing to share some thoughts and stories as well?

Yes that would be cool.

I keep hearing people talking about the death of physical media and I just don't see it, for a variety reasons which I won't get into on here. I think streaming will be a supplemental distribution chain, but not the main source.
Having said that, I think there is a decent chance they release the final volumes when the economy gets better. At the very least, I can see them doing an on-demand service like the Warner Archives line.

Quote from user: KneonQuote from user: MustangRockstarAt the very least, I can see them doing an on-demand service like the Warner Archives line.
I could see that, yeah. I just don't think the previous sets sold like hotcakes at Walmart, which is probably why they opted to end the line.
Which is strange to me, because most companies do not wait until the final volumes, several years later, before saying "Hey, this isn't selling well!" Additionally, I find it hard to believe that some of the obscure TV shows being sold on DVD, sold better than these shows, especially considering that they were bare-bones, with no extra features. To me it seems like they had a certain number in mind, probably unrealistic, and it did not hit those numbers.

Quote from user: KneonQuote from user: MustangRockstarTo me it seems like they had a certain number in mind, probably unrealistic, and it did not hit those numbers.
DuckTales just isn't going to move as many units as, say, a re-issue of The Lion King. I'm not sure what number they had in mind, but Disney has relegated some of their more obscure titles as Disney Movie Club exclusives. In fact, the DuckTales movie was an exclusive. (link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuckTales_the_Movie:_Treasure_of_the_Lost_Lamp#Reception_and_release)

There are plenty of options to make DA shows more widely available, I'm just not sure where those shows are on Disney's priority list.
Which speaks to my point exactly - Disney should not expect the tv shows to sell like the major motion pictures. That's an expectation that is destined to fail.

Warner's on-demand service has been prety successful, to the best of knowledge. I'm surprised more companies have not gone this route.