Castlebee,
I've been thinking along similar lines. I was able to get a quick look at the new "coffin" set at the festival, but didn't find out anything more about it than can be seen in the photo you've uploaded. I note that there are 22 DVD cases. Isn't that about how many make up the original sets? Yet these cases are very slim, I would estimate that they are about 1/4 the thickness of the original sets. And of course the original sets came in varying thicknesses, at least mine aren't all the same. I think they changed the packaging fairly early on in that release.
So now, like you, I would really like something that would save space. My entire set fits in a large gray plastic bin--not exactly ideal. On the other hand, I personally wouldn't want the coffin shaped box (too macabre, but also not exactly a space-saving design. The new individual DVD cases certainly save the space, though -- but on the other hand, I find the Barnabas in his coffin picture a little morbid too. I know, I know - that's the signature of DS, but still ...
I'm curious how many DVDs fit in each case--am guessing it must be four per case. If so, how well will the inside of these cases hold up? As it is, at least one of my cases of the original sets has hinges that fell apart, and I mean I had only opened and closed the case once or twice.
DVD packaging has improved in a lot of ways. When I pull out some of my older (non-DS) DVDs now, I find that my past frustration was perfectly justified--many of the "buttons" holding the DVD in place are hard plastic that absolutely will not budge for anything. With one case, I had to break off most of the little "tongs" of the button, and I remember having to bend a lot of DVDs to remove them from the case. Oddly, I never heard this problem addressed anywhere. Yet someone must have been aware of these packaging problems, because every DVD I buy now pops out easily; they've vastly improved that design.
One possible drawback with the new DS cases that I wonder about is if they are flimsy. Also, how are the DVDs arranged inside? With some sets of other DVDs I have, you have to take out overlapping DVDs to get out one on the bottom, etc. --again, what I'd call a poor design.
Even with my misgivings about the new set, I might be interested in purchasing the new packaging alone if it were available. But I've never heard of a company offering just the packaging for sale, without the DVDs!
As an aside -- boy, we could've saved a lot of money if we had held out till now to buy the complete set. On the other hand, I'm glad I've had the DVDs to watch whenever time permitted over these past few years.