First of all, thanks to Apsinthion and child_of_lileth for your responses. With all due respect, however, I think (or perhaps hope) that these systems will be worth more than that to SOMEONE if I hold on to it for 30 more years. Consider that the console is already nearing its 23rd birthday, which means it'll be over the half-century mark by the time my theoretical sale takes place. Anyway, I suppose that also means that with its original 72-pin connector, it'll be worth considerably more than if I continually replace the connector over the next three decades. That's what I thought originally anyway.

And child_... Thanks for lacerating my ulcer even more! I guess I truly am behind the times if the top-loader's been around for that long. I think, though, that my perception of gaming has changed since I had the original NES, or SNES for that matter, (especially since I got my NES when I was about six) so now I look at the whole gaming industry rather than just what's sitting on the local Toys R Us (or in my case, Toy Works) shelves. I stand by my previous statement that I will not buy anything other than the original-design version of these systems.

Thanks again for your responses! More are always appreciated!

Hey everyone! You know, it's funny...Two days after I decide to become an active member of GameSpot, and the very topic I've been looking for answers to for over a week comes up on the forums. Maybe these topics show up a lot, but for someone new to the forums, it was pretty cool. Anyway...

I've been looking into buying an old-school NES from EBay, and I guess I've been a bit out of touch with the game world lately, because I can't BELIEVE someone came out with another design! Top-loader?! Hogwash! In my quest to collect all the old-school systems, I'll never buy anything other than the original design. I mean, I guess it was a smart business move for whoever came up with it since the youngsters who never had the immeasurable pleasure of playing the first one will now get a chance, but for me (as well as, I trust, most of the twenty-somethings and older who read this) it's sacrilegious.

So, my question is this: Clearly, an original NES, still sealed in the box, purchased on launch day, vacuum-sealed in the basement of Nintendo's HQ is the most valuable of all the NES systems, but do you think it would matter much if, say, thirty years from now, I tried to sell my not-yet-acquired system WITH THE NEW 72-PIN CONNECTOR?

How much will it hurt the collection value? If I have to, that's what I'll get because most of the reason why I want one is for the love of the games (plus, I doubt playing classics like Legend of Zelda and Bubble Bobble has quite the same feel if done through the Wii's Virtual Console), but I'm also looking at it as an investment in my (and my children's) future.

Any thoughts?