I think, most of the time, if the Philippine Bluray have the same number of BD discs as the US version, the features (ie extra features, commentaries, deleted scenes) are the same. Of course, if you are comparing 2-discs to 1-discs (Bluray alone, not BD-DVD Combo), that's not Apples-to-Apples.
Digital Copies is something that will not happen soon, so no need complaining. Copyright limitation. Unless Amazon or Apple open their software to us, it's a pipe dream. As said, the US digital copies on Philippine computers is a loophole, not something that we should legitimately call 'feature'.
BD-DVD Combo is easier for the distro to provide, if they wished, but maybe the demand is really too low to make it worth their while. Just a point, in the local LOTR thread that Magna posted, I think they talked about bringing in an additional 80-sets of the Trilogy, which they had hoped to sell themselves (cut out the middleman), but there seems to be less than that number of takers, since they are now on display at Astrovision...
As for pricing, I say, just vote with your wallet. I rather not complain if Thor is Php 1700, because, distributors have to make a profit, and have bills to pay. Not to mention, Astro (or Odyssey) have to take a cut of that 1,700. And there's the issue of duties and taxes. We all know that, most of the time, Amazon purchases are not levied duties, so unless you want them to close that loophole, then start complaining...
I rather, think if paying the extra php is worth viewing the Bluray ahead of those who imported, if so then buy it locally, if not...
There are also times, when the local bluray is the top tier Bluray released in Region A, C Interactive's Resident Evil: Afterlife features the Bluary 3D and 2D version, whereas in the US, you have to get the Bluray 3D version to get the same. Granted, the price, is pretty much the same (not counting the shipping and handling), but if you consider what I said in fourth paragraph, then the Local versionj could be considered cheaper.
As said, vote with your wallets. Personally, I bought numerous C Interactive Blurays (Limitless, Red, Source Code) since I consider their 1295 (on release) pricing fair. I also bought Viva's Alien Anthology Egg and Sound of Music Gift set (Php 2500) since they are cheap. As for LOTR, I bought one (But since sold it since I also have a US one bought somewhere here on order then), I consider the Php 4995, okay (not cheap, but fair), I get to view LOTR ahead of my US copy, and that I think is worth it... so to each his own...
