Hello jrporter: it does sometimes seem surprising, yes, especially given that so many Strat players don't even bother to install the trem arm, since they don't use it.

However, Fender are in business to sell product; they've done hardtails many times before and if they sold in worthwhile numbers they'd have several in the catalog today. The fact they don't tells us what the sales figures are like.

There are lots of threads on this Forum asking for hardtails, HH Strats, Floyd Roses and other such things. But I guess out there in the market place those people don't add up to enough to justify these things commercially, at least, not often.

Cheers - C

...but given the dizzying array of Strat models that are produced, a single non-artist, middle-of-the-road hardtail doesn't seem excessive...

Are you generally this surly or is it post-election grumpiness????