I'd think the "at will" sets would receive the 1, on this hypothetical scale. 2012, 2008, 1992. What's the difference? Anyone who wants one probably has one, or could get one "at will"..
Stage 2, to me would be the sets that are more often collected than simply bought. I'm not sure where the cut-off would be. But I'd probably place it right around '78 and older(if it doesn't fall into another stage), because honestly, anything newer than that, I'd just buy complete without a second thought.
Stage 3 would probably be very similar to Stage 2, but with a bigger $ card or two. Maybe '68(Ryan). '67(seaver and carew). 63(Rose). so on and so on. Often combined with SP high series and the such.. I'd think many of the smaller pre-war sets would also fit here. I'd put '48 bowman in this category only because it's a small set.
Stage 4 would be similar to Stage 3, but this time with HUGE $$$ cards. '49, '51 Bowman. '52, 54, 55 Topps and maybe '57(No Huge $$$ cards, but a seemingly abnormal amount of high $ ones.) Also, the more common pre-war sets, without any crazy expensive cards. like a 40 Playball 41 double play. sets like that.
Stage 5 would probably be similar pre-war issues that are a little harder to come by. Or smaller issues that probably have a few high $ cards. '39 '41 Playball, 34 goudey, some of the smaller E's and T's would probably also fit this mold..
Stage 6 would be the same as 5, but would have a card or two that would probably be out of most people's price range. Maybe '33 Goudey with the Lajoie. T206. You get the idea. Or the Larger and/or more obscure pre-war sets.
Stage 7, should take us to the rarer early 1900's sets, and the smaller(somewhat attainable) 19th century sets.
Stage 8, would probably be the Larger 19th century sets, or sets that contain a few insanely priced(yet attainable) cards.
Stage 9, sets that there's just a card or two that may be near impossible to get..
Stage 10. sets that people would be happy just to ever get 1 card from(not to mention complete it). 1893 Just So Tobacco comes to mind.
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