[Crazy Jetty]

I've skipped reading what others have posted, so I won't be influenced.
The focus on my collecting is set towards normal retail product. Transformers, DCUC, that sort of thing.
Partly out of interest, and partly out of monitary restrictions. I've simply never really been able to afford highdollar knicknacks.
However.

While I've never bought anything from Hot Toys, I do occasionally dip into the high end products of that scale, and I have reasons, and certain attractions.
If I do spend $50+ on a collectable doll, it's going to be a character that I have a great deal of emotional investment in (So far, Hot Toys themselves has never produced one single figure of anything or anyone I care about).
I've purchased the 12" DC Universe dolls for both Green Arrow, and Black Canary, because I have an emotional attachement to them. There have also been many simularly scaled anime dolls I've encountered of obscure characters that mean something only to me, that I've been interested in, and would purchase if I had the chance and money.

So for me, it has nothing to do with what the figures are worth to others, and has everything to do with what the character is worth to me.
I couldn't possibly care less about Hot Toys' Iron Man, or Jack Sparrow. Nothing they've done has been worth one iota of attention from me. However, if they produce Saint Walker, then I may try to spend the money.

Basically it comes down to most of these high-end toys are too far out of my price range, so if I ever do move to spend the money, it's going to be a figure or statue/bust of someone I care deeply for.

I hope this helps.