So I have been struggling with this a bit lately. So much so that it stopped some of my purchasing behavior all together.

So the question is, at what point do you stop spending money on a representation of a figure you already have?

Here is an excellent example:
1- You own MP05 ($150). But it has faults
2- Appolyon comes out and it looks glorious at ($150), but it still has faults.
3- TT version comes out ($150), and it's finally perfect. Except, it has fauts you will only realize when something else comes out.

So how do you handle this situation? I mean, at the end of the day, this get's very expensive very quickly. First off, it's hard to sell an MP05 when Appolyon is out. And you surely aren't getting the $150 you bought it for. Not now. Maybe in like a year. But not now. So that is money loss. Then the same pattern continue with Appoloyon.

Now that TT version, which may be your "final version" will cost you the cost of MP05, Appolyon and TT version. Your talking about possibly $250, just to replace.

Personally, I did not have a problem replacing Alts with MPs. But when I start changing MPs with MPs it gets pretty ugly and expensive.

I mean, here is my short list of replaced items:
- Thundercracker
- Starscream
- Brawn (iGear to Badcube)
- MP01 for MP10

Now here are the things I skipped:
- Asia exclusive Skywarp ($200, FU!!!!!!)
- Appoloyon (so far I have)

I am sure there are others. I even stopped buying some third party toys that I think will be made by TT. Like Mirage.

The worst part of it all, is that there is a voice in my head that says, you KNOW those things are going to sky rocket in cost and you won't get one! But I have been able to fight off that bastard for now. For now...

Collecting Lego Modulars building helps with that.

So what do you guys do? How do you deal with this?

 

I think the point of where to stop is pretty much up the individual since we all have different tastes and prerequisites.

Personally, at least when it comes to replacing MPs with MPs, the biggest factor for me is money. I have the Wal-Mart MP Skywarp (using the older MP seeker mold) and I would love to upgrade to the new Skywarp with the newer remolded rear wing assembly, but for $200, I just don't have the cash to spend on something like that. I could sell the Wal-Mart Skywarp I have but I probably wouldn't even make enough back to pay for half of the newer one.

It's easier with general releases like Generations. If there is a new version of a figure coming out that I personally like better, I will buy it and then try to sell the ones I already had. I did that with TFU 2.0 Powerglide and Silverbolt when the CW versions came out and I'm doing that now with GDO and Titanium Hot Spots since I'll have the CW version soon. I don't always get back what I paid for the earlier versions since everyone else will most likely also want the new versions too but I take what I get so I can help cover the cost of the new ones. Now if there is a new figure coming and I think I have the better version already, I'll pass. That is why I'm passing on CW Legends Windcharger and Warpath since I have the better, imo, RTS WC and Generations Warpath.  

 

This is why I generally stick with official releases. That way, I don't feel compelled to replace pricey 3rd party toys with better, more affordable Hasbro releases later down the road.

Now, there have been a handful of better official releases. But I didn't spend a whole lot prior to the newer purchase, so I don't feel like I've out-spent myself.

 

I kept my Walmart Skywarp. He looks fine in the right rear corner of my MP Decepticon display and I like how he looks a little different than Thundercracker. If they even do them, the Takara versions of Shockwave and Megatron will have to look way better if they expect me to replace Quakewave and Apollyon. I have a KO Red Alert I got for like $40 shipped. I really don't care enough about the character to spend additional money to get an official one. Not going to get Brawny to replace Hench either.

 

Never.
I sell the inferior version to help pay for the better version.

 

I only buy a new version of a character when I think the new one is in every way better than the old one.

 

I haven't gotten rid of any figures yet.

 

I stop buying replacements when the originals stop breaking. But really everything I have is displayed. I have like 3 different Soundwaves, 5-6 Starscreams, 4-5 Thundercrackers and Skywarps, 4-5 primes, 3 jetfires, and a partridge in a pear tree. I like all my guys too much to ditch one mold to replace it with a newer one.

 

You either play the upgrade game or you don't. If you play the upgrade game you end up spending more money to get to the 'definitive version', but you also get to have and experience different interpretations and molds/moulds along the way. I would look at the lost money the price of admission and as rental fees for the ones I was able to enjoy before I got to the final one. For me, the current MP line is the end of line. Once Takara makes an MP version, I am done buying that character. If they reboot the line in a different scale etc... I stop with what I have. I don't collect chug, so not concerned about that. It's up to you where the end is and how to get there.

I'm not playing the stand-in game for Transformers or any other line. However, I am getting Megatron(Apollyon), Trailbreaker(someone please!!),FT Dinobots, FT Insecticons, FT Reflector, (fingers crossed FT Skyfire & Omega & Devastator???). I'll be keeping all of them even if/when Takara makes official ones so I'll be able to display them in both modes.

 

I still haven't really bought a figure with the intention of it replacing another one. I have multiple display options so I can have FP's Menasor in one place while having CW Menasor in another.