I'm not too sure about getting this saber... it doesn't seem to fit my tastes that much.... i saw one in person at Frank and Sons Collectible Toy Show, but it didn't impress me much......
Why were purple LED's too expensive to buy??? The blotchiness shows a lot more clearly in this blade than in my other ones.... and i only held the blade for a short time.... However, since this is the only other blade out that's readily available, i might have to feed my FX saber addiction and get one anyways, despite my dislikes of it...
Purple LEDs are too expensive since red, blue, and green LEDs can be bought at a much higher discount than purple LEDs; not to mention that MR already had blue ones available, so it was easier (and cheaper) for them to use blue LEDs with red foam than to go and purchase purple LEDs.
The Mace shows blotches more easily simply because it uses foam that's been painted red to give the purple color, which doesn't look nearly as nice and uniform as if it were just blue or red LEDs. You can also make out the lines of red along the foam, so that certainly doesn't help the blotchiness.
I happen to love my Mace, but I understand it's not for everyone. However, the Anakin ROTS and Vader ESB should be more readily available than the Mace now, so you can go down that road if you don't like the Mace. Just don't go and buy a lightsaber even if you don't like it; because then, you're missing out on 64.35% of the magic of an FX. ;)