I know from my childhood that in Boston (a very rural area) we had two major toy shops and both stocked the full range of Britain to the extent that if you wanted something and they didn't have it they'd get it for you within a week or 10 days. The proof of what was on offer back in the 70's and 80's is borne out by what turns up weekly on local boot sales, I must have 30 or 40 items in the garage that have been picked up this summer alone, and there are 2 or 3 serious dealers on the boots who charge silly money for their goods.
Agree wholeheartedly about the current quality but then again look how farming has changed in The UK over the last 30 years. Gone are the days of farms running 10+ tractors, its now all done by one or two big machines (or contractors) and the implements they tow are becoming more and more specialized. Gone are the days of their being 6 or 7 firms building balers/discs/drills etc, its down to 2 or 3 manufacturers building a limited range of big implements.
I think the moral is to look after what we have, because those early toys were special and will never be repeated.