I appreciate Bill1's opinion and just for the record, I have a recent 5K, 3K and Cherry 3, and I think that I was the one that said the short run was a shame. I also have a Centennial 3 on hold at a very good price, (never pay retail). I have been playing Martin Guitars for 30+ years and even though they make some strange variants these days, for the most part I still love their timeless style, history, build quality, consistence and playability. They are still the authentic and real thing. I know that it is not a popular opinion, but as a fingerstyle guitarist, I like the voice and playability of the recent ukuleles better than that of the vintage instruments. Tone is subjective, but build quality is not, and for that, I don't think anyone beats Martin. They also go to great pains regarding environmental controls and their woods are still carefully aged and if you buy new, you get an actual lifetime warranty.
I have heard a lot of negative comments regarding the recent Martin solid wood ukuleles. I have no preconceived idea of what a ukulele should sound like. I do know that my 5K has a beautiful ring and sounds great all the way up the neck. It is very balanced and expressive and beautiful to look at. One of the things that makes the newer Martins heavier, especially toward the head it that the fingerboard is thicker than the older ones and it is Ebony, (very dense and heavy as wood goes) and also the head itself is thicker. That doesn't concern me because I use a Uke Leash (and play with my thumb on the back of the neck rather than over the top). I also like the thicker fingerboard because it gives me more room above the body and will probably help to keep the top from becoming worn.
The Ukuleles in the "Golden Era" had gut strings and were often tuned A,D,F# and B. I doubt that anyone living could tell you what a 1927 Martin 3K sounded like when new and with gut strings. I feel that if you enjoy something and it helps you to enjoy playing more, you shouldn't care what the connoisseurs think. What works for one may not work for another, and it may be debated until the end of time, but you cannot dictate taste, and for me, the Martin 3 and 5 appeal to me in a way that others do not.
Martin is, in the end, a business and has to make business decisions. In some ways I am glad for the short runs. When Harley had their Centennial, all 2003 Harleys were Centennial Models and I think that Kamaka did the same. That makes these 200 instruments a bit more special. Martin only produced 100 Daisy Ukuleles, and you rarely see one for sale. For that matter, I rarely see a used Martin 3 or 5 Ukulele for sale. Someone must be happy with their purchase.