I only bought the Wandering Star versions as the Conan stories had long been oop. Even the 70s paperbacks were (relatively) expensive and were (for lack of a better term) crappy versions.

So I bought volumes 1 and 2.

And then Wandering Star went off the rails, and Del Rey picked up the rights, and reprinted the Wandering Star editions, in paperback for 1/10th the cost!
Even that Gollancz hardcover didn't exist at the time, so that wasn't an option.

Crap.

Volume 3 just came out (even though the paperback version had been available since Nov of 2005. And I was kinda stuck with already having 1 and 2, so I may as well get 3. At least I have matching numbers for the 3 limited editions. But still, if I had the option, I would have gone with the cheaper versions.

'Reading' / 'Reading soon' stack: DC/Vertigo - ArtOps, Batgirl, Gotham Academy, Gotham by Midnight, Injustice; Marvel - Allred's Silver Surfer; Other - Abe Sapien, Descender, Fight Club 2, Goon, Mind MGMT, Southern Bastards