No disrespect Tommo , but why don't you broaden your horizons , and travel just that bit further . There are venues outside of the EM that play wonderful stuff , not just the same old same old . Also if you really want that record , the one you have been chasing for a decade , then it is well worth the price to yourself .
I for one most certainly did own pressings back in the early 70's from the very shops you talk about . That was because in them days it was basically the only way to own them . Today there is no need for them , and I would NEVER knowingly play one out if asked to DJ . Our area is awash with ''DJ'S'' who play there boxes of shitty pressings , it makes a mockery of the real collectors and DJ'S who do all the hard work searching and sifting the net . I for one would'nt would'nt call that snobbery . Just trying to be truthful .