>>8333982All they had to do was look to the past. The original HGUC Zaku 1/Zaku Sniper (both released in 2006) had an expanding ankle joint that could be closed up for a smooth look, or expanded to give it a proper range of motion even with that limiting Zaku ankle guard. I keep saying, this should have been the template for every Zaku moving forward, as well as any other large-footed MS with ankle guards that obstruct them.
But as far as I know, Bandai never used this ankle design again after this mold.