Collecting compromises

[WelcomeToTheNextLevel]

Have you ever been able to get something you really want collecting, but had to compromise (cheaper variant, cart only, etc) due to money?

I have two examples, both from late 2011: my Sega SG-1000 and my Earthbound copy.

I got the SG-1000 Mark II, boxed w/all hookups in good condition for $233 (153 + 80 shipping from Kanazawa, Japan). SG-1000 Mark I's were going for $700 and up, some in the four figures. I plan on getting a Mark I a few years down the road but it's not the highest priority.

My Earthbound is cart-only, I think it was a rental mule. 100 bucks. Boxed copies in good shape were going for 400-500 or more.

[gbpxl]

A near complete Turbografx missing the manual

A near complete Link to the Past missing the secret manual. Had to pay a lot for it later on so at least now it's fully complete

[Tron 2.0]

One time a few months ago.I was looking for a copy of the japanese version of soul star and i found it cheaper just buying the game disc only.Beside,when i was really buying for the neo-geo mvs i often settle for just loose carts since complete kits can really add up.Oddly enough though when i originally bought samurai shodown II and crossed swords loose,i was able to find there boxes&paperwork to complete them.Yes and it wasn't cheap either to do so.

[Aussie2B]

I'd think only the richest of game collectors have never compromised.

I've got games, systems, and merch in all varying states of completeness and condition. In my dream world, everything I have would be complete and in mint condition (plus I would have the space for complete copies of everything), but I don't sweat it. It also can be satisfying piecing together complete copies later on. I mentioned in another topic recently that I got some gaming stuff from a crackhead's place years ago, and one of the things I found there was a manual for Beetle Adventure Racing on N64. By the strangest coincidence, I just so happened to have a copy of the game with the box and tray and everything BUT the manual. I mean, I could've just bought its manual on eBay or wherever for dirt cheap, but what an interesting way to end up with a CIB copy.

[AdamAnt316]

I myself rarely hold out for complete, boxed items. Sure, I've picked up a few here and there in my travels, but if something's odd/rare enough, I'm more than willing to settle for loose items. Probably the best example of this is my Magnavox Odyssey. I don't have the box, but I have damn near everything else (well, except for the light gun for the Shooting Gallery :mad:). Here's a picture of the collection, minus the overlays (which were too large to fit into the shot, but I have all of them in both sizes):
http://www.electronixandmore.com/adam/temp/odysseycollection.jpg