I used to be a completist in that in the 3.75" scale I would get two of every item that was released. One to get MIB/MOC and one to open.
When the TSC (The Saga Collection) line came out after the ROTS movie line, I reduced my purchasing habits to only get a MOC/MIB item if it was a straight-up re-release (no paint-op differences, no sculpting/mold differences). I did not get one to open. So for example, when they re-released some of the Jedi Starfighters from ROTS, I only bought one of each to keep MIB.
Then when the TAC (30th Anniversary Collection) line came out and they turned around and released the same TSC items only in TAC packaging, that's when I finally broke in terms of vehicles. I only purchased the new vehicles to the TAC line, I did not re-buy vehicles, but for some reason, I wanted to keep my Battlepacks and Evolutions collections "complete" so I re-purchased those items in the new TAC packaging.
When the TLC (The Legacy Collection) & CW (Clone Wars) lines came out, I've taken my next step in not buying re-packaged items - I'm not buying any of the re-packaged vehicles and I'm not buying the re-packaged Evolutions sets, although I did pick up a Fett Evolution set just so I had the version with the symbol on Boba's armor. If I can pick some of the Evolutions re-pack sets on sale or clearance (in good shape) I will reverse this decision. Same thing with the Battle Packs since so far there appears to only be three.
With individually carded figures, starting with the TSC "Greatest Hits" figures, I only have been getting one of each figure to keep MOC. I followed through with that in the TAC Legends line and now with the TLC Saga Legends line. I get a few of those Legends releases to open (like the Pit Droids from TAC) or the army builders I wanted to get more of for my squads, but it isn't important to me to get one of each Legends/Greatest Hits figure to open.
With the regular carded figures, that are part of the line's major run (i.e. the 60 TAC figures with coins or so far the 27 BAD figures) I still get two of each.
For me, this is close enough to "collecting them all". Sure it means my MIB/MIP/MOC collection for each packaging style is not "complete" since I don't have EVERY item that was released in that packaging style, but I just don't have enough space or $$$ to justify getting something like the Jedi Evolutions set or the Darth Vader TIE to have in a new box design just so I can thump my chest and proclaim "My TLC Collection is Complete!" - it just doesn't mean that much to me anymore I guess. (not that bragging about what I have ever really did)
I'm actually at a huge cross-roads with the TLC K-Mart Tins - $100 for three tins that I already have with 12 figures I already have, solely to pick them up for the packaging variation seems really silly. But then again, I picked up the Legend of the Saga set which is on sale this week for $17.99. It's at times like this, I wish Hasbro would slow down with stuff, K-Mart really didn't need another round of Tins, they just didn't. So far I've only seen one, so I'm not sure if they really are selling or if they only put out that one and brought the others to the back 'cause the shelf space was already stuffed with the exclusive K-Mart TAC Tins. The biggest decision maker for the tins will be if I can walk into a K-Mart and pick up all three in mint condition with one purchase. So I'm going to check out one more K-Mart and if they have them great. If not. Oh well.
Sorry for the rambling response, this has been something that has been on my mind for quite some time...