It is no trouble at all -
anything to aid a fellow SWMinis player
You want to get into SWMinis with the best value proposition possible -
that 'goldilocks' zone of not too much, not too little, just right.
Hopefully, that will save some materiel for customising the pieces that were never made
or to set aside for future minis which will be made, such as FFG, epic duels etc
the short of it would be, yes and yes*.
(assuming it was in the range B7-C5 or A1 for the high end)
the long follows as to the why.
Typically, per set, record suggests from previous consignment sales and buy-it-now averages etc,
tentatively that 1-300USD range per set.
If a set is A1, or has extra features (say, a signed card, or a misprint, or is complete with all promos etc),
it can go for more, but that is a handy ballpark.
For comparison,
lets look at how much it might be to acquire the set,
if you were to go to a reseller/vendor, and buy only singles.
Lets choose an older 60 figure set, say RotS or RS etc.
If you add up all the 'buy-it-now' prices (which have deflated ~ 15% compared to the 'gotta have it latest craze' days),
the end total can wind up between $287.59 and as much as $417.82USD depending on the vendor,
and that's if they've even got the stock on hand hehe.
However, those would want to be A1 grade, mint cards or still in bag etc.
back in the day, 'chase' pieces could fetch as much as 80, 90USD or more; pieces like Boba Bounty Hunter,
Desert Skiff,
Cad Bane,
Dash Rendar,
Kyle BattleMaster,
Lord Vader
Mandalore (woeful piece in the game, a must have for mando'a the world around)
Cade Skywalker - Bounty Hunter,
Roan Fel etc
and later, uncommon pieces like
ARC Trooper,
Destroyer Droid (any set)
Basilisk War Droid,
X1 Viper etc
would start to fetch in $15USD- 30USD per piece, depending on where you could find them if you could
Now, smaller sets,
like the last 3 made, A&E and R&I
they tend to go for a lot less AND have a lower buy-it-now price.
For alliance and empire - people hated the honorific squared bases by and large.
Rebels and Imperials was just a reprint set - and it has most of the rares from the earlier sets at a much cheaper option.
This is where cross comparative approach kicks in -
so, why would folks buy it now, compared to buying the boosters by the brick?
the answer I keep circling, is there's a minor saving to buying-it-now compared to by the brick
Yeah, so when you factor in the average range [1-300 x ~17-18]
you wind up with a range of between $800~$2K.USD to acquire a complete collection of ~1240 pieces.
that would be assuming strictly 1 of each, though you'd likely have a few doubles
the lower end is B7-C5 grade collection - "played, as-is, worn, light damage" etc
the higher end is A1 grade "unplayed, ungamed, as-new, pristine, mint" etc...
if complete to you means, inclusive of all the league promos and promo pieces... a little more hehe.
I think there's ~1240 pieces in a complete set, inclusive of all map packs,
promos, special theme packs etc.
that is the high end - ~5K USD for a complete A1 set with some adverts/wall hangers,
signed pieces the works.
Though, the market is very depressed atm (great depression mk 2 and all), so I haven't seen one like that go for a while... since 2009/10 maybe?
hopefully this helps get a ballpark,
and I would definitely like to hear from others as to what they've seen collections go for
'wholeus bolus"