[Iwatasan]

I used to collect the Mother series so I know what it's like to collect for a series that only has a few games. You're right about how it's nice to have a manageable, well-defined list of editions and merch that you're trying to get. Unfortunately the Mother series is also painfully expensive to collect for, so I did have to give up on that one in order to focus totally on Zelda.

When it comes to series like the ones mentioned so far, GameTrigger is right, you have to be focused. Make your own manageable, well-defined list out of the plethora of items that exist. If you're trying to collect every pen and pack of gum with a Zelda logo on it, you're right, you're never going to finish. I would emphatically recommend against a strategy like that. My strategy is primarily games, guides, soundtracks, and consoles. I narrow it further by sticking to US region unless Japan gets a soundtrack we don't, for example. I spring for sought-after merch occasionally too; I just picked up the Phantom Hourglass promo keychain for example. But I definitely stay away from posters and most anything unofficial---I can't afford it, I don't have room to display or store it, and it would take away resources from collecting the more interesting items.

For Zelda specifically, there actually is a knowable list of editions and the most sought-after merch, and there's several good forums around that can help guide you on what those lists contain if you're really interested. And I agree with Knight that, at least for now, the best buying strategy is to get limited editions/merch at MSRP with a preorder if a possible. Look at the recent Hyrule Warriors CE that went from $79.99 to $500-$1,000 overnight.