The US release of this game is the only one I'm missing from my Wonder Boy library. I do have the Japanese one and the Tobias bootleg so at least I'm able to play it. It just sucks that a real copy is so hard to find.
I've been into games long enough that I just can't bring myself to spend a lot on them. These prices usually aren't based on anything more than what the last a$$hole paid for them and, since no official body is keeping track, it's all skewed and often incorrect eBay/Amazon data.
I don't know if I'll ever be able to justify spending over 1k on a single game. I guess it wasn't too long ago that I broke my over $100 rule, but 10x that amount seems way too far to go.
I've made my peace that I'll never own every game ever made and already own more than I can play in a lifetime. If I can't get a deal on it, I don't want it.