Just something I noticed while researching Hanako Games - you can actually buy hard copies of their games directly from them:

http://www.hanakogames.com/cds.shtml

Something cool for any collector who needs to have a hard copy version of purchased games on their GOG and real shelf.

You can save/backup/store the game install files on a cd to have on your shelf, too. And you don't have to wait for the CD to come in the mail. You could also use flash drives or external harddrives.

You still have to buy a case, CD, get a download of the jackets graphics, and then have a printer and paper to make the jacket - if you want a proper case, it's far cheaper and easier to just buy these kinds of things straight from the developer. If you just wanted a normal disc, you could just backup the installer/etc. to a cheap CD, but it wouldn't be the same as having a complete case from the developer.

In this case, it only costs $10 + shipping to get that, so it's not like it's an expensive alternative.

That's true but why would you buy two copies of the same game at the same time? Is there some intrinsic value to having a case and the cover art? I know some games are highly collectible and having all the bells and whistles is part of the attraction. But why not one or the other instead of both? Unless you got the game at the insomnia sale, its 10 dollars for GOG version, 15 Dollars US (including shipping) for the Hanako version and the only thing extra is a cd, a case and a graphic you could print yourself at any business center in glossy hi-res for a dollar or two. I'm not knocking it, though. If that is what someone wants I think they should go for it.

From a practical point of view, no. But a collector's point of view is not really about "practical", and more about "nice stuff I want" ^^

okay, That I can understand. I remember friends buying two of something, one to use and the other to collect. I've done that with 1st editions.