[oneofakindcards]

yeah the limit needs not to be on the companies but the number of sets they put out annually.

A manufacturer probably won't make enough $ unless they're able to make a certain number of sets. Consider that all the old major manufacturers went bankrupt or were almost bankrupt by the time Topps was granted the exclusive MLBP license they have now.

Even though the hobby may be an all-encompassing obsession to many here, the hobby just isn't big enough to support too many new sets and manufacturers. Not only would the hobby have to absorb new sets and cards, it would have to digest sets and cards from previous years if new manufacturers and/or sets were added.