Strelets is a more a case of limited production. I am not sure why as once the tool is made you can make as few or as many sets as you like. Destroying the patterns and tools seems extreme ( if they don't they are not really limited just suspended) especially if a set sells well. Some of the early Airfix sets ran into 10s of thousands or 100s of thousands and some aeroplane kits have seen several million being produced and still going strong.
The great advantage with plastic figure sets is that they are mass produced items and availability is usually very good. I would like to think future generations or new collectors will be able to buy sets that were released several years ago. I bought some of the set 8003 British Rocket troops issued in 2001 a few weeks ago. I noticed in a blog or similar that this set had some useful handcarts so a quick trip to my local model shop and bought a couple of sets.
If a set does have problems with availability then it is good to know. I can only speculate what those problems are but I would assume in the first place that it is not a marketing gimmick but a production/manufacturing issue.

David