My core aim is to acquire collected editions primarily of material I don't already own in the best possible format available, preferably hardcovers.

In terms of classic Marvel, that means focusing primarily with Masterworks (the limited edition versions since I've been collecting them since day one), defaulting to an Omnibus (such as Amazing Fantasy and Tomb Of Dracula) or Marvel Premiere Classics (such as Black Widow: Sting Of The Widow), or sometimes even a Marvel Essential (Super-Villain Team-Up) when a Masterworks release is not in the offing. When a Masterworks version becomes available, I have no hesitation in upgrading.

While my preference is hardcovers over softcovers, but I am not adverse to purchasing softcovers when no hardcover version is on the horizon (such as the forthcoming Byrne Spider-Man: Chapter One and Next Chapter trades). Should this material be republished in hardcover format down the road, and assuming it is beyond the horizon of the Masterworks program, I'll wait for a deep discount sale to entice me to upgrade.