I find it frustrating that they don't understand the simple concept that it costs a lot of money to dub a series - money that these shows won't make back.
I'm not sure if you were making a separate point or mistook the expression of my disappointment as lack of understanding, however, I fully realize that dubbing is often of comparable cost to licensing. While I am a bit surprised that
Aria (along with a few other sub-only titles of late) isn't considered to be of sufficient caliber for a dub to be profitable, I obviously trust TRSI/Nozomi's research more than my own "gut feeling". That does not dispel my disappointment however.
As is constantly repeated by various industry members on panels, podcasts and interviews, the best way for fans to make a difference is via their spending habits. I fully agree that my primary (if not only) means of communication to the powers that be is by way of what I choose to buy. If I don't agree with something I just don't buy it, not out of spite or malice (quite the contrary, I love TRSI), but that it is simply the sole means of expression available to me.
Conversely, I'd happily pay what I've come to consider the "normal" price for the option to watch
Aria subbed or dubbed if only to be able to watch it without ugly subtitle text marring the otherwise beautiful imagery. If the oft-quoted 10:1 dub:sub sales ratio is anywhere close to true then the fact that a dubbed
Aria isn't deemed viable is really an extraordinary indicator of how "nitch" the title must be. How educational this has all been.