Yes, You Jim. Beta was first and has better picture quality. The simple answer is people were sold on VHS because it recorded 6 hours on a tape.

I have a couple hundred Beta tapes and nothing that will play them. Both my old Beta machines, seem to have given up the ghost and won't even load a tape now.

Ever find a good deal on a Betamax player, drop me a note.

As for Beanies, I try to avoid fads. Cabbage Patch, Beanies, Buzz Lightyear. One lady came in to the restaurant with a "rare" early Beanie when the prices were high. She was saving saving it, because it was valuable. Tag was missing, but it was a first year issue.

I said, sell it and put the money in a bank account for your kids education. I hope she likes the "rare" Beanie now, because we both know you can find them at Church sales for 50c now.

I collect chips because I like them, not because I have any hope that I'll ever get my money back on them. Neatest part is they are small and don't take up lots of space. Don't get old and musty. Don't get foxing on the edges... best collectible I ever had.