One of my all time favorites.
Describes it perfectly. It’s my favorite General Yo actually. 
New purchases come onto my radar primarily for one reason: they are different from anything else I own.
Then they stay in my collection as long as they remain interesting to me. If I find I don’t throw a yoyo much if ever, it’s a candidate for sale or trade so that I can find that next “interesting” yoyo.
There are a few exceptions to this: I won’t trade or sell yoyos that my wife bought me (at least I haven’t yet!) and as of today I feel that I will always hold onto my Kyo DNS. I have a bit of sentimental attachment to it because it’s my first metal, I got it for a bargain price, and I played this at the hospital surrounding the birth of my second child (didn’t play yoyo during the first child’s birth!). It doesn’t hurt that it’s a beautiful yoyo with a unique finish, is the only truly “organic” metal in my collection, and plays really well. 
But yeah. Uniqueness. It’s why I’m trying to get my hands on a Pacquaio and a H5xChief. I have no other yoyos in my collection like those.
1st - Does it look cool … I usually decide this before i purchase it.
2nd - What does it offer that isn’t already represented in my case.
3rd - Do I like the way it plays … if not i pass it on to my kid.
4th - Cost… i haven’t paid more than 30.00 for a yoyo … i’ve come close to spending more a couple of times but usually end up finding what i need in the BST.
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Do the Specs appeal to me?
I tend to stray away from extremes. whether it be tiny diameter (Mighty Flea) or crazy width (Monster), I could never enjoy them and would stay in my case. That being said, I still like variety. -
Play
Of course is the most important. I have to like how it plays. I hate buying yoyo that I get really hyped over to find out when it comes in the mailbox, it wasn’t all I was expecting it to be. Currently, I’m trying to trade my collection for throws I WILL throw, that I WON’T let sit in my case for an eternity. -
Variety
I ask myself, what does this yoyo add to my collection? As stated in the first criteria, I like variety, but nothing too extreme. -
Brand
I know it seems materialistic, but the brand is kind of important to me. If I dislike a certain company and every throw they’ve made before this throw, why take the chance? As of now, there’s only one company that has never produced a yoyo I don’t like (see signature).
With all of this, I think usually I don’t like going into a blind purchase. I really prefer trying a throw out before I make my final purchase. For you traders out there, when I’m split between two throws, I think of which one would be easiest to trade or sell pff. That I way, I have a cusion, so if I dislike the throw, I can easily trade for others or sell and buy something new.
What influences abbys collection? Everything! I haven’t really tried and different shapes and weights yet really because I buy my own yoyos and it usually takes me months at a time to get enough money for a Yoyo. so I gawk at yoyos forever but then never buy besides I probably won’t be buying any yo-yos anytime soon because I need money fir a laptop more for YouTube video editing, mine craft/other PC games, and 4-H secretary duties plus anything else I shouldn’t use for the laptop my school provides me with with is really bad because it can’t even load a YouTube video.
I was keeping track with a list, but I got a little behind with it lately, so your question prompted me to get the lead out and update. It took me awhile though.
I have a few put aside for contest prizes or to have mods done or something, and I didn’t count those.
If I include all my yo-yos, even an Imperial…240. That includes metals, bi-metals, cheap plastics, and wood. If you want to know how many metals only, including cheap metals 157.
106 I would consider higher end $80 to $650. The others are Token, Shutter, DV888, Hatchet type stuff. I have 47 yo-yos that have at least one twin.
I just looked at my Imgur account (my signature). For a few reasons, there are only 193 yo-yos in the photo catalog. When I own identical twins, there is never any point taking a photo of both twins individually. In that case, one photo represents that I have at least one. I will photo twins if they have the same colorway but different splash, as obviously they look different and need their own photo. Another reason the count is low, is that I have not updated it recently. I have a Hatchet, Arctic Circle 2. Blizzard Summit, BVM2, Hazmat and a bunch of others that haven’t had a catalog shot done. Spinning shots, Splash Game or cup shot of those has probably appeared on the forum by now though. If anyone looks at that Imgur feed I will update it soon. But, I doubt it…so it is not really priority.
Oh, and I updated this post:
Brand: I’m not really brand loyal I’ll try anything from any company if it fits the specs I like
Playability: light on the string with some float to it, and a midweight fits perfectly for me
Grind:I don’t do much grind but it is fun to mess around with
Overall collection
Roughly 30 yoyos some sent to the dead pile with missing parts or stripped axle. Few have made it to where it stays in my case and won’t leave (model 10, ag1, bvm2). I am quite active on the bsts so I have owned and tried coubtless yoyos and it’s always fun to try new things.
My yoyo purchasing habits have changed as of late:
Originally it was just a case of “If I like the look of it, I’ll buy it.” However as my collection has grown and I’ve become more discerning, it’s boiled down to a few criteria.
1. Like Greg, the main deciding factor now in my collection is for a throw to offer me something different, something that I don’t already have. Interesting shapes, bi-materials, etc. My next big purchase will probably be a Titanium throw. I’ve been putting it off for ages, but I know eventually I’ll give in. I was very tempted by the Dazzler, but since it seemed a tad light to me at 64g I didn’t pull the trigger.
2. A great deal. I recently bought a Cliff and a Summit, because they were great deals off a B/S thread. As much as I wanted both of these, I wouldn’t have gone for them if they were new. but when I see a truly good bargain, I’ll usually hop on it. Yes you heard me right, I finally bought a Cliff. (I’ll have to remove that from the “passed-over” thread.)
3. If it hits our UK Store. The site is run by a great bloke who really gives a lot to the UK yoyo community, so I like to support him where possible. That, coupled with the high shipping cost and risk of customs charges associated with ordering from YYE are enough to make the UK store the place of choice for me to buy new throws.
Pretty much anything outside this will be resisted. Money isn’t tight, but I can’t bring myself to continue to drop cash left right and center on throws when I already have plenty. Also, the more throws I collect, the more a lot of them are starting to feel the same, so the more I long for something different.
Good call on that one. It’s nice and all, but for a first or only titanium, I wouldn’t choose that one.
How a yoyo throws makes or breaks it for me. If it throws out, or has a long free fall at the end of the throw, then I won’t like the yoyo. It has to have just this perfect feel.
I only keep players, and gifts.
I basically won’t buy a yoyo I have to pay more then 60$.
I collect what appeals to me. Other than the general yo stuff, what looks like it will be fun is what I go for. I don’t plan to compete, and 75% of thee things are geared towards competition. I like to play the stuff that is the opposite.
Not to digress, but may I ask what you would recommend?
Your best bet would probably be a Ricochet. Though if you can find a Ti Walker, nab one of those 
I recommend the Ricochet as well. It’s a great “first” titanium, due to the shape, price and availability. I enjoy that titanium most of all.
I was never one to try new things. when something new would come out I would wait on the reviews. so I guess online reviews built my collection.
As long as I can have fun with it. I have a synergy thing plays horrid for 1a but it’s amazing to come up with new tricks on where you grab the throw and move it
Neeeecrrrooo!
Although I did end up getting a Ricochet in the end for my first Titanium. MIB for around $100 from ILYY Frank, and he even threw in a free St. Eel. Absolute gentleman. ;D
Hot dang! What a good deal!