One major difference about cards today is that they seem to be available in fewer and fewer outlets. Yes, you can get them at Target and Wal-Mart and some drug store chains carry them.
Even 20 years ago, though, you could still find them in supermarkets and other chains where they were often impulse buys.
When I was a kid in the early 70s, bakeries and liquor stores had them. I don't know how many card packs I would have bought had they only been available at K-Mart because we just didn't go there very often. I don't know where small town kids have access to them anymore.
It's sort of an 'out of sight, out of mind' thing for a lot of people--younger and adults-- who might consider buying some cheaper packs if they just saw them more often.
Vintage card prices have stayed relatively steady except for the rare or high grade items and I would expect that to continue because of the availability online.
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