Best decisions/biggest regrets as autograph collectors?

[Topps206]

I thought of this earlier, an interesting way to share stories. What would you call the best decision or decisions you made as an autograph collector, what big regret(s) do you have? Because I’ve felt both.

My best decisions have to be two of them: I went to the Moeller Show in Cincinnati in November 2022 and added a couple of Sports Illustrateds, as SI is my main collecting focus, but for my 1987 Topps project, I added Tom Browning at that show, and he was gone a month later.

The next one is I went to NBA Crossover in Indy back in February and got two SIs signed - one by Dominque Wilkins, and earlier that day, Bill Walton, who sadly left us on Memorial Day. Both SIs are two of the cornerstones of my collection.

My biggest regret is not starting with SIs sooner. I’d been collecting autographs for about 15 years before I decided to expand and go all in with SIs in July 2019. I had about eight signed before then. I’d gotten many autographs on other items, while people who’d signed other stuff for me had since passed away or their show prices are now higher. I’m around 130, and I’ll be getting more signed soon, but man, I would’ve loved to have started sooner.

Which regret(s)/good decision(s) describe you in this hobby?