So, Greg has printed a Lost 3? And Matt unraveled the 'mystery', just in time to start selling them?
Perhaps this could be the case. Really can't say, though, which was why I initially broached the topic.
If so, this wouldn't be unlike a book company publishing an anthology of a writer's "lost" original drafts or an architect's alternative structural plans. I own numerous books like these and find them fascinating. To me, the extra information often helps to provide a richer and fuller understanding and appreciation of the original subject matter. In the case of Wackys, an artist's rough (whether eventually realized or not) might sometimes offer an added glimpse into the artist and their thought process(es,) a particular time period, specific set, etc..
I only wish (selfishly, perhaps) that when such tangential, limited and unofficial WP sets are produced, they are not lauded as "rare," etc., in hopes of increasing their market value, but rather simply made available to the average collector at a fair and reasonable price. I, myself, would consider paying $100 for a "Lost 3" set. A bit on the pricey side, yet not beyond my means. I am not about to enter a bidding war, however, and pay a small fortune for each and every unofficial card and/or puzzle. (Like so many others, I believe, Topps' 24 Hour offers and decade long proclivity of flooding the market with a zillion parallels, etc. have slowly helped to unshackle me of such compulsory and obsessive tendencies. Much as I may want, say, the rare and elusive "red" card, I know it will
never be part of my collection. I can either sob over it - or simply say, "oh, well," and move on.) In my opinion, the business practice of alienating the majority of one's customer base in favor of garnering top dollar from a few is narrow minded (in the sense of not seeing the bigger picture,) "old school," and a sure-fire way of fostering disappointment - and even resentment - in one's customers. I would suggest, rather, catering to everyone. This way, everyone wins. One sells dozens upon dozens of sets at a good markup, and the customers are not only satisfied, but eager for more. (You don't see the top retailers - Walmart, McDonald's, Macy's, Dollar General, Target, etc. - catering to the few. Just the opposite. You see them going out of their way to embrace as many customers - and their wallets and handbags - as possible with
affordable and
obtainable products.)