Obviously, I am a big fan of TES, and would really like the CE, since money isn't really a problem for me. However, I was slightly disappointed by the contents of the Collectors Edition. The extra DVD's are nice, but they are going to be available everywhere days after the release anyway. The map is nice, but all pre-orders get it, and I genuinely want the art book. The problem is the dragon - I simply cannot dedicate one foot of space to a giant statue of a dragon, but then again, I can't justify paying 150€ for an art book and the special box. Should I just get the normal version at release, then just buy the CE without the Dragon from ebay or something after?

I'm kinda like you.. I'm a huge elderscrolls fan. This will be the first collectors edition that I will be missing that is available. I just couldn't justify buying it. I really wanted the art book. The statue I'm just meh on. In the end the thing that resolved my internal debate on it was asking myself these two things. "Honestly does the contents justify the purchase for that price?" and "What is it that I love the most about getting the collectors edition?" The first question I answered to myself was no. The second was getting to look through the art book, then I realized how many times would I honestly look through it. Five?

Sure I would love to have the book on my shelf to pull out and browse through during an extended power outage and such. The thing is, I honestly couldn't justify it with the price they stuck on it. I mean I could spend 150, but I really feel I could spend that better and have more fun. Maybe you could try doing some pro's and con's to decide? Or as you already did cut out the parts of the collectors edition that you don't care for or want. Then take what remains and ask yourself. "Would I spend X amount on this/these items right now if I could order them?"

I think the book's worth it (considering that, if nothing else, we're also getting the game as well), but I can understand your reasoning. I'm not very interested in the dragon statue either; I'd hoped for a metal miniature, and the statue is closer than what I expected, but it's still not an item I really want. Too big, and too... PVC.

A "premium edition" featuring just the game and the artbook would've been ideal.

I could've been in the same situation as you, but I got too carried away when I heard "the CE is available in extremely limited quantities" and pre-ordered it right away. Kinda regret it because of the ridicolous price, but I really want the stuff as well. I'm going mental if the CE will still be available and cheaper after the game's release.

I think I'm the same as you on this one. I'll enjoy the collectors edition for a couple of days, then they will all be burried by other stuff and forgoten about (unlike the game). I'll probably hold off buying for now - maybe they will announce an edition between the two, something like what they did with Deus Ex HR or The Witcher 2, having three editions.