G4 Prototype Ponies - Yay or Nay?

[cloud_weaver]

I need to be educated.     I will be the first to admit that I don't know diddley about G4's and the prototypes.  It honestly makes my head spin!  I only have a few G4's - I'm not a hugely active pony collector anymore, but I would love to know more about prototypes.

Do you collect them?  Are any of them rare?  Do you consider them "staples" in your collection?  What is the pull towards them?

Honestly, I would not be comfortable buying prototypes in bulk, for fear that they would be released shortly after and I'd lose my investment.  But then again, there is a Minty worth quite a bit at the moment, correct?

Help!  Teach me.  ^_^

*edit*  As always, pictures encouraged! 

[wystearya]

I only have one, but she is one of my favorite ponies.  (She is also my avatar pic.)

I like to call her "Princess Rarity".  Rarity's body with Celestia's head and hair/tail.
She is the fashion style size, larger than the small brushable MLPs.

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I just like her colors.  I think at one time she was kind of hard to find, not sure if that is still the case though.

--Edited to add info.

[shadowdreamer]

I do not have any prototypes yet,but I REALLY would like some. Like blue haired Celestia,and glitter wisteria!   Also that Princess Rarity is Beautiful! <3 I love Fashion Style Prototypes.

[Rhubarbpie]

I have some and I do enjoy seeing them.  Most you'll see are just head swaps, some are genuine factory errors, but many are done on purpose by some less than scrupulous sellers who have cottoned onto the fact that some people will pay $$$$$'s for them.

Here are some of mine

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2012_0117g4collpix0011 by Rhubarb Pie1, on Flickr

The Rarity alicorn (Mix of Rarity's head on Blossomforths body) was purchased here on the arena.  The "other half" (Blossomforths head on Rarity's body) was purchased on ebay.

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2012_0117g4collpix0010 by Rhubarb Pie1, on Flickr

Blonde Pinkie Pie was purchased through ebay, blank flank Flower wishes purchased on MLP Trading post

And then there are these girls, they have not been officially released yet, so can they be considered prototypes???

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2012_0204Cakes0014 by Rhubarb Pie1, on Flickr

I think they are super cute, though there are some who don't regard them very highly.  They add a little spice and variety to the G4 mix 

[BlueyBirdy]

I don't collect them but I've had a few pass through my hands. Kind of regret selling some of them now as they were really quite fascinating and are now near impossible to find. But I have to fund the Taobao ponies I kept somehow!

[achab1984]

Yes I do as long as I can afford them. I have a few in my collection right now.

[Unicorn_pops]

I love the prototypes! And congrats on that Fashion Style wystearya (also see your from WV ) I've been looking for the Fashion Style prototypes for awhile now with still no luck. Minty is HTF and quite costly when she does pop up but I'd say Sweetie Blue is the rarest since only 2-3 are known to exist compared to about 12 Mintys'. Also the yellow baby unicorn is very rare too (and hopefully my taobao agent has located one in China from a seller that I may be getting...Yay!)
I do have several Brushable sizes (won't repeat current pictures already shown)

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Sunnyrays/Lyra Combo

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Uni Peg Flitterheart

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Trixie/fluttershy combo

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Pinkie/Raritys combos

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Glitter Wysteria and Pinkie Pie

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Alternate Tinsel colors Applejacks (have a red one on the way from Taobao too)

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Rarity/pinkie glimmer wings

I also have lots of Head mismatches too.

[Marigold]

I love the prototypes more than official releases. I'd like to collect all of them but I've stuck to the ones I can afford.

I'm looking for alternate tinsel applejacks right now and I have the black tinsel version.

By the way are those glitter ponies we've been seeing, including Wisteria, fashion style size or regular brushable size?

[Spectrum]

I love the prototypes more than official releases. I'd like to collect all of them but I've stuck to the ones I can afford.

I'm looking for alternate tinsel applejacks right now and I have the black tinsel version.

By the way are those glitter ponies we've been seeing, including Wisteria, fashion style size or regular brushable size?

Regular 

[LadyMoondancer]

I like the G4 prototypes, but I don't actually collect them.

[Malicieuse]

Honestly, i don't consider most of these to be "prototypes". Ponies like Wysteria, Minty and perhaps some of the early different tinseled ponies, yes. Ponies with mismatched heads or lacking wings seem more like factory rejects and test runs to me. Not really an attempt at creating a new toy.

I own an alicorn Rarity but i have little desire to get most of these "frankenponies". A part of me feels like i could just as well be swapping around heads myself.

[Moonbreeze]

I like the prototypes, but I'm not fond of the obvious mismatches.

This one is my favourite:

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[Marigold]

Thanks, I was hoping they were regular...not that I know if I will ever get one. Hoping though. 

[Gogobinsin]

I like looking at the prototypes but I'm not interested in owning any, I only really like official releases. I am hopefully getting a Mrs Cake and Baby Molasses though whether or not they're considered to be prototypes but the only reason I'm getting them is because Mrs Cake is a pony from the show and Baby Molasses is cute and near enough an official pony to me Also she has Crystal Empire eyes so if she is to be released we may see her soon?

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I would love to collect prototypes, but what has been released in G4 aren't prototypes - or can't be officially proven that they are.