Most of you talk about a "purpose" or a "function", regarding the Core characters...
When will those persons understand that the MOST IMPORTANT function of every single Skylander (Core, Giant, SWAP Force or Trap Master) is to make you have fun?
You might want to buy a specific character because it will unlock special areas, or have extra powers, but if you don't like it's look, or how it plays, in the first place, then you are just wasting your money.
I would really like to know if all those ones complaining about the inutility of gimmick characters, in future games, really tought that buying a 15$ Skylander, only to use him in a single game and unlock certain areas, would have been a good idea...
I am using all my 80 characters, in SWAP Force, even if, as you said, they don't have a "purpose", and I will surely use them all again, in Trap Team, along with the new characters I will buy.
As I already said in a previous post, it is ALWAYS all about the prices and the utility of the various characters. Not a single person talking about how he enjoyed, or not, playing a specific Skylander...
Sure, the cost is important, and the utility is too, but without a true motivation, it is all pointless...
That's really sad... If you want to spend a lot, only to have all the the functions possible, then buy a car with all the accessories. You might also enjoy it more, since Nightmare mode would be available immediatley...