I have an update.
I talked to a good Game Stop manager. He told me that regardless of what the overall condition may be, he can tell me that they do not accept any Metroid Prime Trilogy trade-ins without the steelbook case. Therefore, it's possible a copy might not be the best shape and could be missing the manual, art book, etc., but at least it will have its case.
I really want it to be complete and in good shape for this price, but there's the 7-day return policy. Therefore, if I don't like the condition, I can return it and invest more in an eBay copy.
Either way, I'll keep people posted on this gamble for the benefit of the community. There is a chance this is Like New based on the Xenoblade stories.
Promo code CAG16 gives you 16% off.
Anywhoo, as much as I hate GameStop, I will point out that ordering online from them is pretty hassle free. Why? Because of their return policy.
You have seven days to return used games in-store if you are not "completely satisfied". So, order a copy (or seven) and return them until you get one that's in a condition that leaves you "completely satisfied".
Thanks. This is a very good point. At the end of the day, this is a low risk gamble. It could be almost brand new for much less than the eBay going rate. If it's not in good shape, I'll take it back.
Most likely you'll only get the standard version if you buy used.
Are you buying it for an collection or just to play the game? If you're just interested in the games you could also just go with GC versions of MP 1 and 2 and buy MP3 (WII) for cheap--like $-30-40 for all three games.
I'm buying it for both. I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't played these, so I need to just play them. However, I love the collection, and I would love to use the Wii controls. That's why I'm considering the larger investment.