Thank you all for all the great info and guidance. I think I will stick with the proofs, and the occasional graded coin. The proofs are what I like and I know that is all that really matters in the long run, I just wanted some others opinions, thoughts, and guidance on the matter.
For my two centavos, I don't care for the idea of graded ASEs. Heck, all are either 69 or 70 right out of the Mint tube. And 70's are certainly not rare, and never will be. If you buy proofs in Mint boxes, you'll have a larger buyers market in the future if you want to sell. There are more average people who like and appreciate fancy Mint boxes than collectors who know what MS70 on an ASE in a plastic slab means -- not much.
I think he, and I know I am, is refering to the page directly from the online catalog which still has last years notice about the shortage of material needed for the ASE production.