Figure Variants - Worth the Time?

When you collect your favorite characters or series figures, do you also get all the variants?

I am a Completist myself. So depending on the figure, I will try to get all the varianties. This can become quite expensive as sometimes there is more that one variant. Take a look at Echidna below which has several variants. While others like the Ikkitousen Great Guardians only have 2 that I am aware of currently.

This is not a cheap option as these can range from $20 to several Hundred dollars depending on the figure. Some, like the Queen's Blade mini bust figures are not that bad. If you get a case, you get all the different variants in one shot. But then you have the Con special sets which now means you do not have all the variants - ARG!

What I do find funny is how sometimes the variants have a better or more colorful paint job than the original did. You never know until months after the original is released if there will be a variant. Now if you do come out with a variant, I would hope that besides color change, they may add a different weapon or something.

Here are some figures to give you and idea of originals and variant figures. I know there are a ton more out their, but these were some that interested me the most.

Enchidna

Chouhi Ekitoku

Kanu Unchou

Chouun Shiryu

Pictures "borrowed" from the Manufacturers of these figures & Tsuki-board