Honestly though, were they to release a comprehensive DVD of all McDonaldland crap throughout the decades, I'd buy it (if a promotional item offered with the purchase of an Extra Value Meal).
Why did they ever get rid of these? No more Grimace, no more Fry Kids, and even Ronald is rarely present. Do I just not watch TV at the right times to see these types of ads anymore?
Sid and Marty Krofft got stiffed out of a fee, and successfully sued in 1977. Some bits of McDonaldland got phased out as a result. http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1343/was-mcdonaldland-pla giarized-from-the-old-h-r-pufnstuf-kids-tv-show
I'd always heard that it got phased out further because of some uproar over marketing greasy food to kids, but I don't know if that's true. I expect it's more a matter of kids today having different tastes than kids from the 70s.