This argument is frustrating... Regardless of whether or not you feel comics are a good investment, they are an investment. You can argue that for you personally, as someone who is a purist and is planning on dying and being buried with your comics, that to you they are merely an emotionally valued object, they are not an investment. You can in no way argue that comics are not an investment for someone else.
Beanie Babies were an investment for some in the 90s. Yes a stupid, ill conceived investment, much like Penny stocks, but an investment nevertheless. Comics may either hold their value or not, depending upon the book, the market's appetite for the medium, the age, whatever, but they ARE an investment. I personally would invest heavily in pig lard...
You just want to use it for mustache wax!
In a serious vein (yes,shocking,I know) MetalPSI,I wouldn't say a 9.8 is a great long term investment.With all the monkeying around(pressing,ect). That goes into making many of these,and really the tiniest difference in eye appeal it involves,the fact that a 9.6,9.4 ect can magically receive on a re sub,I have to agree with KenAldred and others...get one that looks great to you,save some bucks,and get another book you love with the savings.It is just a label after all.
Try and get a 9.6 with a notation that says 9.8? .....
Jimmers