Wow, nice! I'm not going to show pictures because nearly my entire collection is thrift store ponies. Most recently, I found G1 Tunefull and Princess Primrose, both in amazing condition, and some G3s and 4s.

I suppose the best story I have is from a few years ago. I hadn't found a thrift store pony in probably 8 years at the time, but had just moved to where I am now. A friend and I went to a large local thrift store and I took a quick look in the toy aisle just to see what was there. At the end was a My Pretty Pony, which I had wanted for years, ever since I first saw an overpriced, badly broken one in a store years ago and didn't buy it. Between that thrift store and two others in my area, in almost 3 years I've now doubled the size of my G1 collection, got my first 3 Dream Beauties, and added a decent number of G3s and G4s, as well as some non-pony stuff.

Good luck to you in finding more! I think searching for them like this is what makes pony collecting so fun to me!

Of course that's not all those traits mean or are, but the fact is they have often negatively associated with people with disabilities and for a very long time, especially when you put all of those traits together in one character and are expected to laugh at it. It's not at all an uncommon stereotype, even if you don't see it quite so much anymore, so of course people would be offended that others find it funny/mocking, even if that's not the intention. Honestly, I'm surprised Hasbro seems to not be aware of that, and that's what's insensitive.

As for not seeing Pony making that face 24/7, she makes it often enough and in situations where it makes no sense that I think it's safe to say it's a mostly permanent character trait, not a face she makes sometimes.

My point is just that it's a known offensive stereotype, so why include it? That just seems...well..insensitive.

Ah, yeah, Squirmy I never did like the newborn ponies enough to remember them.

Anyway, yeah, I actually have heard people complain about Snips and Snails as negative male stereotypes. But I think people in general are a little more accepting of dumb male characters in cartoons then they are of potentially insensitive portrayals of disabled stereotypes, intentional or not. Not that I think it makes male stereotypes OK, but I don't think anyone laughs at Snips and Snails because they're male, but because they're kind of stupid and goofy. With Pony, sure, people laugh at her, and like her, because she's kind of goofy, clumsy, and not very bright, but unlike the two boys, who just have generic silly voices and make silly mistakes, Pony's silly characteristics...her eyes, name, voice, the extent of her clumsiness, are all specifically associated with stereotypes of people with disabilities, so even if it wasn't intentional, it's insensitive, or at least something people who write characters with these traits need to be careful about when they use.

As for making fun of Canadians...I think I'd have to see the clip because from the description, I don't really see how it's "making fun"... I guess just because they're dumb characters and one kind of maybe has a Canadian accent? I don't know who the voice actor is...couldn't it just be his own accent? I mean, if people are offended, OK, I'm not going to argue they shouldn't be, but I don't personally see it from that explanation alone.

I've heard soaking them in vinegar for a little bit can take out cigarette smell and not leave a vinegar scent. Or maybe try baking soda.

And now today I found a FS Pinkie Pie. I guess I can start to call this a trend in my area.

Never have (except when they were still new, of course...although I saved some of the packaging even then), and never will, unless there's something wrong with the packaging or pony. I much prefer loose ponies and totally understand the good feeling of opening one for the first time, but there's only a limited number of them, and I feel like if I contribute to the number that are opened, there eventually won't be any more, even if that is a long time from now. It doesn't really seem fair for me to get a brief moment of excitement about something by making it cease to exist when I know there are plenty of people who would love it the way it is. For me personally, I guess the whole point of collecting is to preserve the things I like, not just to own them...sometimes, outside of my childhood collection, I don't even really feel like I own them, just taking care of them for the next person. Which I'm fine with. It certainly made selling the MOC ones I had pretty painless.

I would probably open a MIB Playset though, because otherwise, what's the point? But I don't know since I've never had one; maybe I'd feel differently if I did.

Have second hand G4s (other than McDonald's toys) begun turning up anywhere else? This week I found a talking Princess Celestia in perfect condition in a nearby Value Village. Not yet sure if this is the beginning of a trend or just one person who was already tired of it, but I'm certainly not complaining. Anyone else have any luck yet? Thrift store shoppers might want to keep their eyes open for them.