Although, last year I went to the body worlds exhibition (which is another entirely different & seasonally appropriate can of worms) & got to thinking about the plastination process they were using... What would be too cool would be to be able to plasticize them after they're carved. Best of both worlds - funkin like durability with pumpkin looks, carving and *price*
Now that would be a solution to make them last, wouldnt it? Of course, the obvious drawback would be having to rent a storage locker to put them all in for 11 months...
Then again, maybe I just have too much time to think about this stuff.