Holy crap!
I was/am just thinking reallllll hard on this.
When I first joined the site and got the collecting bug back a few months back I asked the same question. Mostly the responses were against it for a bunch of reasons, mostly being the cost. I saw the cost of under $10 a card to be not bad since it would secure and protect the figure at the same time as looking cool. I didn't think about Star Cases on top of that (3-5$ each) but still really not that bad.
So figure max $15 each for a cool looking, somewhat protected figure. Before I posted the question to TIG, I already had an order in with a site that makes great reproductions and the cards actually say "Reproduction Packaging" on the back (I liked that idea).
I got my cards and actually LOVED re-carding them! It was a hobby within a hobby. All said and done, I have the first 21 run, plus an extra Stormy and a few extra Fetts. They do look awesome. Truly awesome! I hand any one of them to friends and family and they freak at first thinking they are real and then when I tell them they are repros, they still are in awe of it. The figs are all near mint, complete and no repro weapons and I love the figures inside to say the least.
FLASH FORWARD......
I am thinking about selling them. I am torn on removing them first and throwing the un-carded ones them to the eBay dogs or maybe leaving on the card to get a few extra bucks. I honestly don't know what to do other than I just know as much as I LOVE them but I could use the cash to help me focus now that I see what sub/mini-focuses I want to get into.
I have a full run of the first 12 both loose and re-carded and perhaps if I only had 1 complete run, I would just stick with the recards.
But since I have both, I see them now as more teases for things I want badly. If/when I get rid of the full run of recards, I might do it again. Again, it was a fun project and the end result is stunning on display but space is also something I didn't think much on.
The first 12 hang on my wall perfectly. Once I add in my real MOCs, I quickly found no room for the rest of the 21 run. So they sit in a mocked up store display like box I made and tucked away.
The last 8 figures are hidden and almost pointless.
Anyway... you have been into this for a longer time so I am sure you are not like I was. My OCD and inner child just went into high gear and I didn't give things much thought.
It isn't so much the cost of the cards and cases for me at all. Right now I simply am looking at beautiful second set of figures I can't touch or swap/upgrade my loose run (which I have a cool display planned for).
Would I do it again straight out of the gate? NO.
Would I do it again down the road after sticking with this for a while? Maybe. Probably. Yes. But definitely more of a case by case (rather figure by figure) basis.
I know there are probably a few "I told you so's" on some people's tongues.
I still think it is great if you understand what you are getting into. I was too new to do it out of the gate. It cost me more out of pocket first getting back into collecting because it forced me to pay a little more here and there to get figures worthy of being recarded when my existing figures wouldn't do.
Sooooooooooo, I don't know if that helps. But don't be surprised if you see mine up for sale here reaaaaaaallll soon so I can spend that cash elsewhere.
If you do, please make sure the cards state reproduction on it! PM me if you don't know where to get them from
IF you decide to go that route.
I still don't know what I am going to do with mine..... this topic creeped me out a bit on the timing... can you read minds and can you see me?
cheers!