... I so wish Geobra made these with the same "playability" as the elephants, lots of moving body parts. ...
I know what you mean and I am likeminded.
However ... seeing my youngest son (aged 6) playing with it, I am not too sure. The Mammoths are quite large. With no articulation in the legs it's easier for him to put them down without them collapsing. Or he can swing them about just holding a leg or so. The fact that they are stiff makes them more easily to play with.
However, without all the articulation they are less interesting for us collectors...
Bogro