the Plastique and Kingpin pages both read:now, why not release, in exs|24 format, what we might call light versions of these kits, notwithstanding the so-called limitations?

We aren't told which limitations actually prevents these drums and cymbals from being played in any sample-player, but let's pretend we don't really care about the extra features offered by Kontakt: whatever approach was valid for Buckshot, or even Grandioso, might be valid as well for other drum sets!

I'm willing to pay for these light versions, even if it means giving up on-board effects or scripting features, especially ones that aren't needed to play drums...

You could use a "light" version in Kontakt anyway as it will import EXS24 format as well as Battery formats.

ah, you could have guessed that I don't use Kontakt: that's precisely why I would purchase a light no-frill version of these drum sets...

Yes, I did understand that you didn't have Kontakt. I was merely pointing out, obviously badly, that Kontakt would also be able to load any light version made for the EXS24 format.

I don't own EXS24 but surely it can't be that difficult to make a light version of the kits yourself. As far as I can see most of the Kontakt specific scripting for Kingpin has more to do with the UI than anything to do with the drum samples themselves.

Although I have the full version of Kontakt 4 I often use a free VST sampler called Short Circuit for drum sounds, because to my ears drum samples sound better in SC than they do in Kontakt (no idea why that should be). With a bit of tweaking I've managed to get all of the AD kits working very well in SC, albeit without the fancy graphic interface, including some kits using a reduced sample set.

probably not difficult, but certainly tedious since to do this, I would need to (1) purchase the full product, then (2) strip it down to a Logic's exs|24 compatible form...

I naively thought that purchasing the light version directly would spare me the dull work!
at least, that's what I understood when I read the description pages: separate volume and panning controls for individual drums, hi-hat, ride, overhead mics, and room mics

but, hey: isn't this absolutely redundant?

it's something that's already available in my DAW — provided the kits are designed as multiple-output instruments

and no need to select from those fancy view | preset | compress | sensitivity pull-down menus...

• do we really need another level of the very same controls and settings?
• probably not — as far as the Grandioso and Buckshot kits are valid proofs of the concept!

so why not provide a light version of Plastique and Kingpin?