The real answer to your question boils down to the age old relationship between supply and demand. There are some people who feel they must, under any circumstances, own one of every chip issued by a legit casino. They create a demand, and they get mad when the supply isn't there.

OK, that makes sense given the state of this hobby 15 years ago. But as a newcomer to the hobby, i don't delude myself into thinking I'll ever own every chip made in NEvada any more than a newcomer to coin collecting thinks he will ever own every coin issued by the USA. I know this won't be a popular thing to say, but I think the old-timers (based on time in the hobby, not age) need to accept that the rules are different now. There are some still hanging on to the ideal of having "everything." I have to ask why you are all mad and upset about not being able to get a chip that is ugly and commemorates a guy you don't like, and is artificially rare (WHether it be Hagar or a cool Chipper). F*** it, don't buy it, don't look for it, and don't try. Because the more years that go by, the more of those will pop up. ANd in all honesty, when newby collectors like me come into the hobby, those will be the Beanie Babies of this foolish game.

The BIcentennial Sahara I have my heart set on will always be cool. It represents the Bicentenial (cool) and the Sahara (a long-running strip casino). The "I printed it to satisfy my ego" chip from an off-strip establishment will not be worth craap 20 years from now. It'll be like a Michael Jackson stamp issued by an island government I've never heard of. If the same Island government issued coin after coin and stamp after stamp, real stamp and coin collectors would decide to ignore it because it lacks legitimacy. I think a place like 4Q has already convinced many chippers that it's issues aren't worth any relevance. And those who like their issues create a niche market.

Real stamp and coin collectors decide whether those things are worth anything. But in chipping, right now, real collectors want everything. That won't last. This is a transition. It will end and people will not care about those "vanity chips" or any other garbage issued by places who don't protect their name.

Just my thoughts.

AL