Around 1993 the hobby expanded from base cards + inserts + minis, to parallels & refractors & SN
followed by die cuts acetate & metal cards in about 95-96, then came autos and relics and MANU around 2000
most Player & team collectors want everything when it comes to their player & team
there are hobby purists that only collect base sets of straight up cardboard
and many other ways to participate in the hobby, my personal ranking of favorite features,
[excluding AUTOS from the ranking, and ]
[excluding the chase for RCs, and]
[excluding graded cards .... my poll, my rules]
1. low serial numbers [below 50?]
2. color parallels
3. refractors & prizms
4. MANU cards
5. serial numbers in the mid range side [50-500]
6. Die cuts
7. non numbered SP & SSP cards & photo variations
8. non cardboard card stock such as acetate & metal & lenticular
9. serial numbers above 500
10. GU Relics are last for me now, because of the lack of integrity in the hobby by the manufacturers, as well as faking of patches by the bad seeds in the hobby. And since I lost my taste for basic GU, I've also lost it for "sick patches"
I probably forgot something.
Of course combo features can change the ranking, it's hard to beat a SN 10 Gold Refractor.
Of course there are certain Star / Goats that I'd rather have a base card, than a common player gold SN 2024
"Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there." - John Wooden