You're spot on with your collecting analogy. It should be for enjoyment and if treated as a money-making endeavor then you should expect declines in value or losses. I take issue, as I think others do, with those who have more knowledge about quantities and use this as an advantage but in reality, it's always caveat emptor.

I've been burned on the color nomenclature of the Dunes 1st issue roulette (I was advised by the seller that it was salmon not pink) and the $1 La Rue's but I take it all in stride. I just try not to make it a habit of over-paying for the value that 'I assign' to a chip from any number of sources.

Steve