About the 'new' stock being recalled to Japan for reprogramming.
A brand-new item is supposted to be unopened and untouched.
At this rate, no brand-new fixed version can ever exist. I guess Shawn himself is returning to SNKP just the carts, not the complete set (with manual and snaplock) for each game.
I suggest Shawn at least to mark each cart (both side of the shell) with any adhesive tag with a code coupling it with the corrisponded snaplock/manual set.
This would at least assure all the 'fixed' new-carts in stock will still be presented in their original 'set' (unswapped).
But according to:
Shawn said:
If you would like your exact cartridge returned after reprogramming, attach a well secured label with your order # or full name (or both) as shown at left.
If no label is attached, you will receive a cartridge in random aesthetic condition from our unmarked supply of returns, only functionality will be guaranteed.
it seems SNKP is going the sloppy way. These is NO GUARANTEE the *boards* of each cart themselvef will not be swapped inbetween carts and carts, unless each bard is as well tagged at its bottom (the edge connectors).
From a collector point of view, this is one horrible scenario.
1) Real brand-new unopened untoched fixed cart will NEVER exist.
2) Fixed carts cannot be guaranteed even to be 'unswapped' in theor parts!
Shawn, you should seriously consider to tag EACH part of EACH cart you're sending back individually, coupling each with each corrispondent case/manual! That is: both side of the cart shell and both edge connectors!
I have two bugged copies, and I'm keeping both. I would likely buy a NEW RUN FIXED CART, but a 'randomly swapped patched' item is another story...
Neverless, I think the ONLY and ORIGINAL 'untouched, original' of this release will remain the glitched one...