I got to thinking about this issue again, while reading of a few more of our friends here scaling back their collections for lack of money, space, time, or any other issues. I should probably change the title of this, because I'm wondering more of if you were starting from scratch - or even if you just had a little amount of space to display things - what would you choose to collect and display - Star Wars or otherwise? I'm getting to the point now where the space I have to display (our office) is getting pretty full. I don't like it when things look cluttered, and I'm thinking now what needs to be packed away. What would you choose to keep?
For me, although I really enjoy the entire saga (and ROTS from the prequels in particular), I'm more of an OT person overall. If I was really strapped for money or space, I think I'd focus on that. Maybe completing a loose vintage collection, and possibly moving onto vehicles and/or playsets eventually. I think I'd still be drawn to the modern stuff too, particularly things on the level of the VOTC/VTSC figures. If I took it further than that, I think I'd collect the basic figures from the OT - particularly those who had versions in the vintage line - sprinkling in "new characters" such as the Lars, Hem Dazon and other aliens, etc. It would be tough to ditch the prequel stuff totally though, so I'm not sure what I'd do there. Maybe I'd keep a dozen or so from the prequels as well, stuff along the lines of Evolutions Maul/Anakin/Palpy, ROTS Pilot Obi, 3PO, Jedi, Clones, etc. Its always tough to know for sure when you're not technically in the situation, but its just something to think about.
Outside of Star Wars, my main interest is Marvel (and to a lesser extent DC) stuff. Foremost among that is Spider-Man. If I was limited on space, I think I'd try to keep a "Spidey shelf" with Spider-Man and his "world" of characters/villains. If I had extra room, I'd continue on with more of the Marvel Universe though. I guess there are always more and more ways to branch off, depending on your interests (for me, comic figures, Unleashed, etc.) - but if I'm trying to keep it to a bare minimum, this would probably be what I'd stick to - in an order of relevance:
Star Wars 3 3/4" Figures - Vintage and Modern (Original Trilogy) - maybe a handful of prequel figures
Marvel Legends/SMC Figures - Spider-Man, then other Marvel (or DC - Superman, Flash, Batman)
Star Wars 3 3/4" Vehicles/Beasts/etc. - Original Trilogy
Star Wars Unleashed
There are other areas I've always been interested in too, higher end stuff in particular (GG Busts, Master Replicas, Sideshow 12" Figures) - so that would be an option too. I'm looking mainly at what I collect now, and what I'd do if I had to pack things up/sell things off/start from scratch and only had a few shelves to use. What would you choose, if anything, to collect and display?