Just to clarify a couple of points, Mike. Assuming your autoship dealer signs up as a participating dealer at any ONE of the regionals, you can buy one or all four of the Regional Event items and receive a voucher(s) for each LE purchased from your autoship dealer.
These vouchers will carry the name of the particular regional your autoship dealer is signed up for, but you can use vouchers at ANY of the regionals.
As an autoship buyer, each of your autoship purchases will give you and entry into the regional event gold drawing, so you are not having to purchase from another dealer.
The same is not true for the in-store events. Is your autoship dealer having a Bill or Nancy in-store event? Then by buying the Mark Twain memorial you again have supported your dealer and gained entry into the drawing for the Gold Tower. Now you'll have to work out with your dealer whether you also receive entry coupons for each LE purchased from their store up to the date of the event. Most likely as a regular customer, they will treat you right.
If your dealer is somewhere across the country, IS holding a Bill or Nancy event and you don't want to travel to the store, you may be able to find a 'stalking horse' to enter 'your' tickets.
When times are tough, enterprising companies do what they can to keep selling. Disneyland offers a third day free when you buy a 2-day pass. American automakers offer 0% financing or a $2002 discount. Harbour Lights offers a chance for a 'Gold' Event Exclusive. People buy Lottery Tickets for a chance to win.
A secondary benefit to the 'must be present to win' rule is that you do get to see old friends and meet new ones. Probably a greater number will show up and stick around. (Bring your 2002 Wacko Badge.)
You can probably count on your fingers and toes the number of collectors who have made it to the "Got 'em All" status. Is your collection devalued if you don't own a 'gold one'? First, you're unlikely to sell any of your collection -- and no buyer is ready to buy every piece in a complete collection.
Will there be Gold Towers on the secondary market? Sure. A Gold St. George was auctioned at the Reunion and went for $5,000.
