For me, spending money on a collectible is purely about owning it, without any consideration for its resale value.
Here’s how I see it:
If the prototypes are genuine, they represent a significant part of early TCG history and are worth collecting. Depending on the price, I might be willing to spend a substantial amount of money on them.
If the prototypes are fake, they still represent a piece of recent TCG history and, for that reason, are also worth collecting. However, I wouldn’t be willing to pay as much for them.
Conclusion:
For me, it doesn’t matter whether the prototypes are genuine or fake. What matters is whether the price aligns with my willingness to collect them for what they represent—a piece of TCG history, albeit one where the specific era (early or recent) is uncertain.
It’s similar to collecting bootlegs that might have the potential to be genuine. The key is to ensure you’re at peace with the amount you’re spending, without factoring in any thoughts of reselling the prototypes.
For now, I won’t be buying any—the price seems unreasonably high for potential bootlegs. However, I would still love to own them someday.
Best regards,
orannge