Something else you said that picked my interest: "Scarcity/rarity doesn't enter the equation when I see something I like -- that is, unless I can't afford it." Maybe we should start with this: What can you afford?
Very little.
Once in a while I'll spend $40-50 on a poster that I've been hunting for...a must have for me.
Once in a blue moon, I'll drop a c-note on a poster that I really, really want, like THE PARISIENNE one-sheet.
I think I've only done that 4-5x in this lifetime.
But, I don't buy items
because of their scarcity.
Does that make any sense?
As for Moviegoods reprints, no thanks.
Though, there are a few studio-issued reprints I have bought (DRACULA, THE MUMMY) because I will never have the finances to buy the originals.
I have only bought those because the quality was impeccable.
That has led me to the S2 prints, which are still too steep for my wallet.