I am disappointed to see that this is even an issue. I compete in many sets that are not based on the title but the artist. In this regard, a TPB is another book that has that artist's art and is something that should be allowed to compete (I want to have everything that artist did!).
if TPBs are not competitive, then I would similarly question:
1. Books that CGC will no longer grade (e.g., old JayCo books); and
2. "AP" books - as they are no different in the art but are simply just something that certain companies do in order to sell more of an otherwise very limited run of books.
Maybe these dont impact many of you, but in the sets I compete in (e.g., Eric "Ebas" Basaldua), these issue are real as well. Maybe I need to start a thread.
Shawn