Mid-season releases are about the manufacturer gaining market share (making money, which is what they are supposed to do).  It's a marketing thing.  Think about it ... these skis *mainly* target the younger crowd where having the latest and greatest is a must.  So they can get a pair of skis that someone on the hill already has or the new hotness.  If it comes down to whether to get the 05/06 or 06/07 Fujatives, I'd say 95% of people are willing to pay the extra $30 for the 06/07s.
I have been riding the same pair of 04/05 Fujatives for 2 years now and they are durable as hell and they do what they are advertised to do well ... PARK ONLY.  For the money you can't beat them.  The low cost enables more kids to get into park skiing, which is what we want.