Genuine question: Why does Shadow have so much hype all of the sudden?

Now before you come for me for asking this, I have Shadow. I love him dearly, he's my favorite plush of the character and I even snuggle him when I go to sleep. So no I'm not hating on the plush itself. I'm just so curious why so many people are just now going feral for this plush! Did nobody think to get him when he was in stock??? I swear he was up for like a week! I get that the third movie is why people suddenly love Shadow (despite him being around since 2001) but really nobody thought to buy him before he sold out? I've been waiting since the second Sonic movie for a Shadow BAB so I knew he would be released and snapped him up the second he dropped. Did people just not know he was being made?? If someone could shed some light on the situation I'd be very happy. I'm seriously so confused.