If you have the money to throw on a case & don't care about saving, then I'd say get the case.. better odds on case, than on random boxes... I broke a case when they were first released.. payed $2K... did ok, but wasn't too impressed with my pulls... best cards.... Bill Russel auto /5, Clyde Drexler prime patch /25, and Toni Kukoc prime patch /25, which I sold on ebay for $235.. was hoping to get atleast $250.. one sold for over $300... still waiting on international buyer to pay.. oh well..
I do like the product, but yes, way too many unpopular players & huge checklist for base auto set... lots of parallels too.. which I do not really care for too much...
my LCS has Preferred for $175, so prices are dropping... hopefully, the big online sellers catch up & drop their prices too... I got 4 boxes of Preferred I still have to scan & upload.. wasn't very good breaks, but the booklets are pretty cool... just don't think they are worth too much, except the Legends & All-Stars...
good luck
Check out my case breaks of Preferred & Elite Black Box...
http://s210.photobucket.com/albums/bb1/j...%20BREAKS/
my top 3 cards from a case break... don't care for the Drexler (so called) patch /25... too plain for a prime card... but it's my 1 of 2 Drexler autos, so it's a keeper, at least for now..