Firstly, 3rd party =/= KO. Perfect Effect is unlicenced 3rd party, Neoart is KO because they copied the design. Licenced 3rd parties also exist, but are usually limited to non-transforming figures.

Secondly, yes; PE Leonidas has either very loose parts or very tight parts (which results in breaks if you're not careful). Neoarts Leonidas fixes most of those and is obviously cheaper(no point buying a expensive KO, right?). In this case buying the Neoarts version is the better choice, especially when PE didn't seem get those issues fix for their Leonidas Origin.

Leonidas is the only project Neoarts is doing right now, which I believe their next release is supposed to be KO of the Leonidas Origin. No further updates until then I guess.

I usually go to TFW2005 for my 3p news; Go to "Boards" -> "3rd Party Talk."

Hope this answers your Qs.

Well, that's what most unlicenced 3rd parties do. HasTak is already pretty lenient on the 3rd party scene, so there hasn't been much action taken except for Fantoy's Grimlock recently

No backstory other than it's a Lio Convoy inspired figure, with also design cues taken from Kuramochi Zukan's doujin T-Beast (which is also the source for GT's upcoming Optimus Primal, Lambor and Hot Rod)
[attachmentid=9303994]
Generation Toys

Then we also have a surprise from DX9 with their Ancestrod which is also the same design teased for GT-12 above, only further along into production
DX9 Ancestrod

The Origin version was announced after Neoarts started with their KOs and features a few design tweaks to look closer to Lio Convoy's anime appearance.

I just ordered Xerxes from allsparkplanet, RM280.

Buy both and keep one in transformed mode lol

Well if money is a concern then KOs do exist... My Neoarts KO Leonidas Xerxes has arrived and I'm pleased with it.

I'm waiting for Leonidas Origin Black Nemesis to pair it.