In the case of Lionel, I think some of their corporate structure unfortunately spills over into their catalog structure.
For example, they may have the same team members working on the development of the licensed and fantasy items who also work on the starter sets and LionChief Plus(2.0) lines. And another team that focuses on advanced engineering and scale items.
But I'd wager a huge chunk of the LionChief Plus(2.0) customers choose that line because it most closely resembles the size and feel of the Lionel trains they grew up with... has the primary features they seek (ElectroCouplers, synchronized fan driven smoke, sounds, cruise), and matches the size and type of rolling stock they enjoy, but have zero interest in Halloween and Christmas items... much less Frozen.
And I'd also wager the Frozen customer has no interest in shelling out for features they'd never notice; like four chuffs per rev, and electro-couplers.
So when Lionel buries their LionChief Plus 2.0 line in and amongst the fantasy world... or there appear to be more traditionally sized rolling stock choices in the WWII Airplane Art, John Deere, and Coca Cola line than in real road names, the "core" traditional customers may get their hackles up.
Jon 
