It's undeniable that NG has significantly altered their release strategy, and it's not for the better. I seriously can not stand them making 3, 4, or even 5 practically identical models in just a few months. NG's sets have gotten more repetitive and stale every year. It's such a shame since NG has some of the best molds out there.
I wouldn't necessarily mind these smaller sets that they've been putting out if the releases just weren't so damn repetitive. I also don't mind the Chinese focus as well (China is a big market after all). I get it's hard to fulfill everyone's preferences and wishes, but NG's releases used to be so much more diverse. These sets are generating nowhere near the amount of excitement that they used to. It just makes me sad.
NG is definitely cutting back on the amount of models they're putting out. Why they're cutting back is anyone's guess (e.g. the current geopolitical environment, financial issues for the company behind the scenes, etc.). It's honestly concerning considering how much money they've put into creating new molds (e.g., MD-80s, 747s, 753s, etc.). You'd think they would want to put more models out, and utilize those molds effectively to generate a good profit. They've bitten off more than they could chew with all of the new molds, rewards program, and collector wishes.