where to start

I don't think you can say 500+ boats in six years is 'not selling', though 'not selling in numbers sufficient to suit the big producers' may be correct.

The fact remains, once you've made the expensive moulds, it's a lot cheaper to chuck a load of plastic beads into the mould and heat/rotate for a bit than it is to lay-up and then stick together g.r.p. hulls and decks to make a proper boat.

My guess is that it was a lot cheaper for Laser to make the plastic Vago than is was to make the g.r.p. 3000, simple as that.

As to bugs, Dan has identified the only one, and while there's no question that the Vandercraft boats are lighter, stiffer and thus potentially quicker and more lively, with its extra weight the Laser is definitely more stable.

The old Hyde sails as supplied with the Laser could also be said to be more versatile for singlehanders - you can furl the jib and reef the main. That said, Vandercraft are now also optionally supplying a Dacron North jib which in principle can also be furled (the Mylar one is battened, thus unfurlable) - some of us are about to fit furlers to our V3k's and try that out.

That is me sold.....3000 it is. 

Only questions I have in the back of my mind is why Laser stopped producing it & what are the bugs that Vandercraft had to iron out in the V3000? 

Are they serious enough to make me steer clear of the L3000.  Considering my (lack of) ability, I expect it will not make much of a difference (other than the dent in my wallet).