I confess to not having read all of the comments on this topic, so I hope this isn't repeating or going off topic.
When talking to manufacturers at shows and exhibitions, I always get the same replies
"there's no call for it" or
"N gauge is to small a market"
yet many of the Crowdfunding and society kits are then produced by the manufacturers, and then go on to be reissued at a later date by them,
which okay saves them the initial risk but also proves them totally wrong about the market that they operate in.
I would rather not crowdfund a project, i would prefer to be able to see it on the shelf of my local model shop, but if that's the only way to get something I want then so be it.