I have now nearly completed my entry-level collection. I have all of the non-super-rare modules, books, and so forth. I have accumulated a few 4 and 5 rarity items, but that is not my focus (or my income level...).

So...the collecting bug is still strong, but the pocketbook is the same. What to do?

I could continue to find more and more minty items, replacing fine and excellent condition copies (and more than a few "very goods"). I certainly don't have one of each item in NM/Shrink (though I have more of these than I thought I would). I am always on the lookout for a minty module to replace a less than minty one. Quite often I end up replacing a VG condition module with a better one that ALSO happens to be of a different printing. Historically, I have collected the less than perfect modules until I get a bundle of them to sell on Ebay to further fund more purchasing...however...and here is my dilemma....

I think...why not keep both copies since they are different printings? Then, the idealist in me says: I need to aim for the best condition (regardless of printing), then, and only then, consider collecting printings. This same line of thinking says: selling the lesser condition items refills my collecting coffers so that I can buy more...

So...my question to you all..."Have you faced this dilemma?" and "what do you do?"

I hear you. My problem started out early due to buying larger lots. As such, I ended up with some questionable condition items that "filled a hole" for a while. This style provided me with the feeling that I was rapidly "checking off items" as my collection grew. I largely kept up the practice of buying lots, eventually focusing on only those that had at least one (or more) "target modules" that I needed.

Honestly, it worked in a couple ways: it was affordable, I felt satisfied with a rapidly growing collection (of mixed condition), and it allowed me to have an ever accumulating collection of items to resell. The downside was that I accumulated some crappy modules that I held onto in order to feel like that part of my collection was "done" and I kind of got stuck in that mode for a while.

I am now changing collecting gears, and am just wondering out loud: will I be happier with increasingly minty items or with a growing collection (size-wise)?

I suspect I am going to end up moving toward collecting different printings, and I suspect I will go about it in nearly the same way as I did before: buying lots, sorting the wheat from the chaff, reselling, repeat.

I guess I am happier having "all the items on the checklist" (regardless of condition...to a degree...no mold or super crappy items) than I am having museum quality  examples. To me, having 5 different "excellent" condition modules seems more satisfying than having 1 or 2 minty ones. After all, once I largely complete the "printing and variation checklist" I can turn again to the question of mintiness.  

Does anyone even struggle with this dilemma?