Yes, I agree. . . If you're determined to collect 
from things like Fushigi Yuugi, then you're 
stuck. However, why pick that show? I partially 
choose the series I *do* collect by the general 
cost of the cels. For example, I'd love to 
collect the new VHD cels. . . I adore vampires in 
all forms, I'm listowner of a mailing list 
devoted to discussion of vampire folklore and 
fiction -- and VHD was the first anime I ever saw 
(along with Vampire Miyu at one of the VAMPYRES 
list parties). I'm not very fond of the art in 
the first movie but I'm a *HUGE* fan of Amano's 
art, and paid huge dollars to buy a copy of the 
ridiculously rare art book, _Kanoke_, which is a 
showcase of his VHD art. The art in the new movie 
looks just like Amano's art.

But I'm not insane yet. I refuse to pay that kind 
of money for any cel. For that price, they can 
sit on the dealer's sites until they rot -- and 
you might notice, a lot of them are doing just 
that. The same goes for the ever infamous Fushigi 
Yuugi *and* Kenshin. I'd collect them if the 
prices were reasonable, but they're not. Mononoke 
and numerous others all are in the same boat. Do 
I want cels from those series? DEFINITELY! Will 
they command my money? Not in this lifetime.

So I'm sure your next question would be: Well, 
what if Miyu cels or Psychic Force cels were that 
expensive?  Then I wouldn't collect them. And if 
you don't believe me, count the number of Miyu OVA
cels in my collection. Their absence isn't due to 
not liking the OVA art and it's not due to not 
being able to find OVA cels -- I simply won't pay 
that for a cel. If TV cels were that expensive, I 
wouldn't buy them either, and as they've been 
going up in price I already have been looking and 
leaving. Know what I find? I find that despite it 
being my favorte series of all time, it doesn't 
break my heart to leave the cels behind and my 
money in my wallet.

Maybe it's just me, but the anime itself comes 
first and the cels are second. On their own, the 
cels are meaningless to me. As long as I have the 
anime itself (whatever the show may be), I'm 
happier than if I had every cel from it but no 
tape to watch. . . and if I have the tape to 
watch, the cels become optional -- maybe things I 
want a LOT, but it isn't painful leave them.

I'm not saying I wouldn't pay huge dollars for 
*any* cel. (Or that I don't get far too excited 
to have gotten certain cels. ^_^) There are a 
couple cels for which I would pay a lot. . . But 
that would be for maybe two *specific* cels, not 
just general cels from a given series. And what I 
would pay even for my two ultimate wishlist cels 
*does* have a limit that is well less than the 
entirety of my bank account, despite if that's the
"going rate" for the given cel or not. (*shrug*)

But then, I guess it is just me. ^_^

Many Sharp Smiles,
--Drac