I really like hearing about the 'psychology' of collecting, and this board (and some others) have some great resources. I find threads like this can turn into arguments, and that's not my intention, I'm just looking for some solid advice.
I need to find a way to stick with my original intention with my MP collection: to only get the guys I really feel some kind of connection from the original cartoon.
At first, it was just picking up Hasbro SW because the price was great and it was an iconic character (I've got the old reissue, never owned SW as a kid but knew a buddy who did). Then I learned about MP-10 and how awesome (and hard to find) he was. So that was a long term goal, even though TBH I'm not the biggest Prime fan. I'm a Decepticon lover from the beginning; Insecticons, Constructicons...Predacons, so on.
So first it was SW. I knew I'd like to get the Coronation SS after all the reviews, and I loved the character. So he was in. Megatron was close, but after reading the reviews (and the scale thing), he was out. Bumblebee wasn't out yet, but I knew I couldn't just have Prime alone...and there was no Ratched, Ironhide or others that I actually did like from back in the day. So whenever BB came out, I figured I'd get him too as long as he was well reviewed.
Since I couldn't find MP-10, I had enough time to develop an insane MUST HAVE IT! attitude for Black Convoy, which I ended up getting. And the list was then complete: MP-10, SW, SS, Black Convoy. And if Megs was ever re-released, him too.
Then...something must have happened, and I'm not completely surprised.
Hasbro released Grimlock. I found a way to justify him (not too hard really) and pulled the trigger. Then Prowl...who was much more of a 'why not? Price is ok!' thing. But after opening Prowl...not real regret, but somehow I ended up buying an Autobot car that, to be honest, I never intended on getting. The toy is great, of course, but so started the slide.
Now that I had Prowl, I figured I gotta get all the Autobot cars. Why?...well I figured get em' while the getting was good, and decided on on-screen only..so now the reissue Skywarp is in, and hopefully TC if Takara does a version in the new mold (not going to bother with the Hasbro version unless I must. On-screen guys, but within reason; the Storm seekers, cool that they are, weren't in.
So that leaves a lot of Autobots, so I scooped up WJ, the Datsuns and I'm planning on the Lambos and BB in Jan.
I imagine my shelf to look great, although the Deceps are going to be pretty outnumbered.
Then comes MP-22. This is where I have to draw the line. He's a great looking MP from the photos, but even though he's G1, I can't remember much about him (other than vague stuff from the movie). And I only remember him from the old toys as a Prime with a makeover. So no real connection to him.
Money isn't the problem, I can afford these. But space might get be an issue at some point, as I like to display them together.
If I get Magnus, I'm going to be crossing the final line where I'm going to buying every MP that comes out afterward until the original intent (on-screen characters from G1 cartoon, within reason). And that wasn't the intent from the beginning.
I guess willpower has a lot to do with it. Part of me thinks that if I just stuck to those original four, I would be fine. I don't really have any attachment to the Autobot cars, and am already kinda wondering why I pushed ahead to collect them all. I'm halfway there, but I can still stop.
Does this all sound batty?
I guess what I'd like to know is what strategies you employ to keep your collections in check. For me, it's the MP line. I'm already working through selling my movie bots and other 'oddities' (Generations, that kinda thing). It was much easier to stick to my guidelines with the original G1 and reissues, as there's only so much to be had. And other than two combiners, I've got that all covered.
If you've read all this, please comment. And yes, I'm sure it sounds dumb, but that's where I'm at with my collection. It's beginning to get to be a headache (first world problems, I know!) and that's not where I want to be. So any honest advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.