Saying this I seen a stat stating 140k Lumix MILC sales, I thought this would be significantly higher globally if this was the case... If this is correct and maybe only 1/14 Lumix buyers want a S1Rii then that 10k potential sales figure could be a reason why there is no potential S1Rii as this would be the same as the purported 10k Pentax demand and why it isn't big enough for them to do it?
I do not know whetther these numbers are correct, but even if they would be correct, the situation differs from Pentax.
Panasonic decided that they want to get into the fullframe market mext to thier MFT system. They have to invest millions in R&D and if you are the new boy in the neighborhood, you have to expect losses in the first 5 years. Therefore Panasonic is forced to offer various different models, even if they do not make profit on it. If they would not do it, nobody would buy into this new system.
Someone who is interested to buy a cheap second hand Lumix S5 will not buy it, if there is not also a S5ii, S1R and S1H in the current product line. For the buyer this is a long term investment. Even if he does not buy at the beginning the S1R, he wants to have the option to do so in 5 years.
With Pentax this is different. Pentax exists since decades. From film to digital. They have already many customers, but their market share shrinked to a size for which many ideas are not profitable anymore. They see people only leaving their system, not joining. This is due to wrong management decision in the past and wrong marketing. Pentax had many really great cameras. Film and DSLRs. It is a shame how this went over the last 20 years with Pentax.
Today it is almost imposible to keep up with the competition. There will never be a MLU from Pentax. And this is the longterm death for this system. Ricoh has not the deep pockets to invest in a shrinking photo market or to invest so much money to invent a new MLU system with a new lens mount . I can understand that. Olympus sold its camera business too as we know, although other areas were profitable.
But at least the Ricoh GR is a success. If I would be Pentax/Ricoh, I would join the L-Mount. Pentax makes some excellent lenses which could be transferred to an L-Mount version. And it is cheaper to design only one Pentax body and a few lenses if there are already many others for this Mount available. Less risks for their customers and therefore a lower barrier for all old Pentaxians to follow this route. all would be happy and Ricoh would make money again with cameras and lenses.
