So people get what they paid for shocker! Really? Not aiming this at anyone in particular but you pay your money and you will get your stuff.
It's more than that, though. A subscription is the best way to reward a publisher with your business. And subscribing generally comes with benefits to the consumer: delivery to your address; getting the product at the very least when it's available in stores, and often earlier. I can't imagine too many people would be thrilled with Rebellion if they suddenly messed up and started sending subscription copies to 2000 AD out a couple of weeks after you could pick the things up in WHSmith.
From what I've seen elsewhere online, dealing with Hachette is a crapshoot. For whatever reason, it seems the Dredd collection went more smoothly than others. It's likely the 2000 AD was was derailed due to the covers volume. Perhaps they thought they could get things done with just a slight delay, which subsequently mushroomed.
It's notable, though, to look at the direct debit dates, which ran like clockwork through into this year, where I see 5 Jan and 2 Feb, before a rather big gap of eight weeks before the next payment. We now hear the next payment will be on 27 April, after which point they possibly (depending on interpretation) aim to get things back on track.
Regardless, sure, you'll get what you paid for in the end. But poor customer service and not making good on original promises isn't a great thing, not least when you're in a project for the long haul. (If the 2000 AD collection ends on 80 issues, it'll be, what, the end of 2021 before it's done?)
