I think there is an additional observation to be made.
In the earlier stages, newsstand versions were common, while in the final stages it was the opposite (with newstand versions being less and less copies in terms of print run).
So it may help to keep this into account.
Personally, since when I started collecting, I always avoided newsstand versions because I did not like the UPC, and always favored "Whitman" versions (not knowing they were called like that) because I liked the "diamond" shape better.
Right now, for example, I like Mark Jewelery books but not because they are "scarcer", rather because the book is less delicate to handle, and they add a fascinating cultural element knowing they were distributed in determinate areas in USA (the military bases, etc.)
Ultimately, it’s not mere "scarcity" that makes the book more interesting, at least to me – although I admit I love rarity, but mostly I love it if it’s absolute rarity (i.e. italian books from 1943-44-45, which are very scarce in terms of actual copies in existence).