Well, my preferences are based on 2 points:
1) I am making a collection, but I don't want to invest thousands unless it is worth....I know that the whole thing of saving goes against the main point of collecting something (it is expensive by definition). If I can go on with what I have already, I am glad to avoid to spend more money
So for now I have the 2.0 card and I can play and collect games that run on a 2.0; then I can buy a 3.0 and buy other games that run on 3.0. The arcade card sounds good, but since I do not play these games, I don't buy them just for the sake of the collection....it is a delicate balance between what I play and like, and what I collect jut for making a profit once I will sell it.
2) I collect other systems and other things....and I have a simple job so I can't afford "everything", nor I can settle on just collecting one thing
I spend already hundreds on collectible toys and games, so once that I run low on cash I gotta prioritize, and the arcade games for the PCE are really low on the list.
The idea is that eventually I will run low on interest and sell the PCE collection (or my wife kicks me out of the house first); and start with something else, so at least I want to get first what I play with, and enjoy, before than just buying for the sake of completeness.
Neo Geo sells pretty well; I had multiple offers from many collectors, to get my games and console, so that's why I went for that road...with the PCE I've noticed that prices may vary a lot (some crazy people were selling bomberman "sealed" for 400 bucks; while others had an almost new copy for less than 50 dollars...but even with non sealed games the prices goes wildly), and this is scary since if I buy games that I don't even play, for a bunch of money, and then want to sell, I get stuck if the market goes down.
I will buy and sell stocks if I wanna go for that road, hence my idea to focus on what retain value.
Of course you can tell me "then do not collect games, because this is what it is", but I would find this pretty limiting....we do things because we want, and we do not stop just because someone think differently, right?
I am not asking you to understand me of course; we are all different after all
I don't know why any of you collect PCE stuff, but all that I collect is because I love it,I had it when I was a kid or never had it when I was a kid; I am attached to my stuff and sometimes sad when I get rid of them; In a perfect world I have the time, the money and the space where to put anything I want, but ain't gonna happen in the real world.
