mwiggins wrote:
Agreed.  It's not like Marvel is forcing anyone to wait decades for these volumes.  For the most part* they're all available in other formats if getting to read them now is more important than having them in your preferred format.  And honestly, do you really think Marvel will still be producing softcovers 8-10 years from now?  That's a big gamble to make IMO.  For example, 9 years is a long time to wait for the most recent Daredevil volume to be released in softcover (as mentioned above), when you could pick it up right now in HC for less than $25. 
 

Too true. However, of all the formats I'm hopeful that the softcovers will be the most sustainable long term due to having the prep work (mostly) already done and the lower production cost/price point.

I actually can imagine Marvel producing Masterworks softcovers that far ahead, but who knows if they will follow the HC schedule exactly. It's possible by then that the demand won't be enough to justify a new HC print run, so softcovers might be the only option.