Maybe I'm just easily pleased so the Play.com version does me fine.
The FS version was long out of print by the time I joined the Blu-ray revolution and yes, when I got into steelbooks obviously I wanted it what with it being one of my favourite films and part of the MU steelbook collection. I looked at the prices and decided that it wasn't worth it to me personally.
As time went on and I got Captain America and Thor especially, I wanted Iron Man and Iron Man 2 more. In the end I bought Iron Man 2 from Korea and added it to my collection but something about it annoyed me. Yes, it's a great design and feels very nice but I'm afraid to say I hated the blue banner and the thick edging around the design. It was also the only steelbook in my collection that even had the blue banner. That actually put me off buying Iron Man much more than the price.
Then, along came Play with the answer to my problem. Iron Man and IM2 steelbooks without the banner and with thinner edging like every other embossed steelbook I own. Perfect! Or at least, perfect for me.
I bought them both, the Korean Iron Man 2 had the discs removed and the case went in the bin. I swapped out the plastic inner for both titles and made them 3 disc sets. It would have been nicer if they'd been 2/3 discs in the first place but what do you expect from a budget release? Oh, and the wrong pictures inside, to be honest I don't care.
I can see why the original FS version is so loved, and why many say it's the best. Maybe it is. The design is slightly different, the colours brighter and yes, it's much rarer and commands a higher price. That doesn't change the fact that as far as I'm concerned the Play.com version just looks nicer on my shelf. I don't care if it cost less or if there's more of them out there or even if the red is darker/duller. Play's is my personal favourite of the two.
I genuinely wouldn't want the FS version. Sure, I'd take it if given to me free and sell it at far less than everyone on Ebay is asking. But it's not an item I want to own and that's all I care about.