Joosh

This is an issue I’ve dealt with as well. I imagine most collectors wanting graded books face this and have the same considerations you’ve detailed. 
It comes down to finding out what you want and why.
If maximum investment potential is desired, then go for the most proven best selling books in highest grade available. This is just a data and math exercise.
This doesn’t fit what you’ve explained though. It sounds like you want to have a book you like that can double as a sound investment. 
Going with the 9.2 instead of the 9.8 is perfectly fine. It saves money to get more 9.2’s. It’s not a great investment strategy for copper/modern books.
You’ve prioritized collecting what you like over what has best likely return. There’s no right or wrong here in my opinion. It will likely be more difficult to someday profit off of selling a collection of 9.2 copper/modern books that aren’t major key issues. That’s the cost of collecting what you want. It’s still a better hobby financially than almost all others, lol.

That’s a personal preference choice. It’s not “trimmed” as in restoration, but a miscut. Unfortunately, CGC does not grade on centering/alignment/miscut unless it’s especially terrible to affect readability or art.
Since you noticed it on this book you’ll probably never be happy with it. There are many 9.8 graded examples of ASM 300, be picky, there will be more.
 

Buy cold potatoes. Resist temptation to buy sizzling hot baked potatoes with butter and sour cream. 

I looked at what you are saying and found they use a 180 day average. Since the massive increase happened around 60 days ago, there are a large number of $2K 9.8 sales dragging down the average of the newer much higher sales. 
Assuming you have paid subscription, you can dive deeper and set your own average. I just changed mine to 90 day avg, and the 9.8 rises to $3,700. 180 day avg is too long for a high volume seller, I think.
The recent large FMV change you mentioned is beyond my understanding. I can guess it has something to do with not having any ebay sales entered for 13 day in October, then the subsequent catch-up after fixing the bug.
GoCollect has a very responsive and helpful customer service in my experience. I’m sure they can help.

I looked at what you are saying and found they use a 180 day average. Since the massive increase happened around 60 days ago, there are a large number of $2K 9.8 sales dragging down the average of the newer much higher sales. 
Assuming you have paid subscription, you can dive deeper and set your own average. I just changed mine to 90 day avg, and the 9.8 rises to $3,700. 180 day avg is too long for a high volume seller, I think.
The recent large FMV change you mentioned is beyond my understanding. I can guess it has something to do with not having any ebay sales entered for 13 day in October, then the subsequent catch-up after fixing the bug.
GoCollect has a very responsive and helpful customer service in my experience. I’m sure they can help.

I looked at what you are saying and found they use a 180 day average. Since the massive increase happened around 60 days ago, there are a large number of $2K 9.8 sales dragging down the average of the newer much higher sales. 
Assuming you have paid subscription, you can dive deeper and set your own average. I just changed mine to 90 day avg, and the 9.8 rises to $3,700. 180 day avg is too long for a high volume seller, I think.
The recent large FMV change you mentioned is beyond my understanding. I can guess it has something to do with not having any ebay sales entered for 13 day in October, then the subsequent catch-up after fixing the bug.
GoCollect has a very responsive and helpful customer service in my experience. I’m sure they can help.

Im too young to have gotten any cheap silver age key issues.
I was poor when IH181 was affordable.
I splurged and got my ASM300 9.6 in 2018, no regrets. I wanted a 9.8 but refused to pay over 2X a 9.6 without being able to inspect it in hand.
I can’t see myself dropping $5K on a 9.8 today, but I also can’t see this book going back to $2K for 9.8.  I think this book is the next IH181, but at a lower price point overall due to higher grades and larger supply. It’s even an actual 2nd appearance, just like IH181, 😂.

A few of these I may have shared previously, a few fresh back from CGC. 

Awesome @Joosh
Glad to see those high grades, I'd have had a hard time for sure 
 

A few of these I may have shared previously, a few fresh back from CGC. 

You mentioned spending a couple thousand/month on comics for investment... with that budget you could save up for major key issues, purchasing one or 2/year. That’s the smartest play for strictly investing in comics long term. When liquidation time comes, it’s just as much work to sell a $200 Black Lightning #1 as it is to sell a $25K Amazing Fantasy #1. The AF15 will probably be an easier sell too.

You mentioned spending a couple thousand/month on comics for investment... with that budget you could save up for major key issues, purchasing one or 2/year. That’s the smartest play for strictly investing in comics long term. When liquidation time comes, it’s just as much work to sell a $200 Black Lightning #1 as it is to sell a $25K Amazing Fantasy #1. The AF15 will probably be an easier sell too.

Bingo! 
Every collector is unique and it really depends on your preference.  
The higher grade will likely be the more valuable comic, but if you enjoy the look of a well centered book, go for it. 

First off, knowing which issue under consideration will provide best advice.
  Most here on the boards will say go for the best presenting book. In this case, it’s the 9.4.
 
I say it depends on your reason for purchasing.
For pure speculation/investment purposes, the higher grades tend to yield greater returns overall.  
From what I’ve seen, well centered books can see a bump in value in grade, but rarely exceeding an off-centered higher grade. 
 

Yes, to re-holder at CGC is deceptively expensive.  Looks like it's just $15.  But, it's $10 to ship it, $15 re-holder, $5 admin fee, $15 return shipping. That totals $45.  You will save a bit if you are shipping multiple submissions to them in the same package.

Yuck that sucks. It would be cheaper for me to just take it out of the slab and submit it with my other books. With any luck I'll get the same grade.

@Jeffro. grades are not posted until books are shipped, so I have to wait and see. There’s actually another book in this batch that was wrongfully labeled as incomplete, so yeah this sucks. I’ve had close to 100 books graded since July and I’ve been impressed with everything until now. 
 
This particular 13 book batch has at least 2 errors as well as lower grades than expected, with grading notes mentioning pressable defects on books that were pressed. 

I personally think 9.9 and 10 are too fragile to pay a premium for. As was mentioned, these books can be damaged within their slabs accidentally, especially through shipping, with nothing to insure against such occurrences. Way too risky for me.

Purchased this book in 1988, pretty early in my GA  buying.  Honestly, I was hoping for a little higher grade.   Not long ago  That said it looks fantastic slabbed. Creig Flessel is a god.
 

I just had an Absolute Carnage 1 graded 9.8, it is missing the code from manufacturer and CGC didn’t even notate it. 
 
I’ve got an ASM698 with 2 stickers, all crooked. Haven’t had that one graded though.

Beauts!
Does he know how valuable those other two are?