I would be very happy if WOTC releases a collector's edition of the PHB. However I hope that they will not simply make a similar book by just replacing the cover with leathery material and call it done. One very good example of a collector's is the Warhammer Fantasy Battle collector's book (8th ed?). They made each page like parchment with roughen edge, a golden hammer logo on the front with a removable metal clasp. So I hope at least the same for the PHB collector's edition. Better if they add in new content like new art and stuff.
If WOTC is releasing a collector's PHB, would you invest in one?
If yes, how you hope it to be?
ArcShot wrote:
I think Wizards, and the new marketing direction of D&D, does not have time for this. This type of product served little purpose in the past, and would be useless in the present. The standard book alone is $50, it would not make any sense for Wizards to re-package something and then re-sell it for $150. I think Wizards is rather busy right now releasing books, as Mearls and Crawford put it, "that you actually will use at your table and not sit on a shelf gathering dust."
I don't collect i play and i am not going to go out of my way to buy a collector's edition
Not a collectors edition, no. A updated edition down the road, one with added errata, and maybe "fixed" classes (looking at you, Ranger), then yes.
I picked up the complete set to serve mostly as an in-shop promo. (The shop owner sold them to me for $1 over his cost) people see 1e being played with books that are right there on the shelf.... I then passed along a set of mismatched, well used originals to a player with less $. Both investments have proven well worth it.
In general though I avoid "special efition" "deluxe" versions of the books. I'm a gamer, not a collector.I bought the 3.5 premium copies. Those books are just beautiful. I actually do use them. I like them more than the faux leather special edition books.
Would I buy the 5e. special edition books if they are produced? That depends greatly on the production values of those books. The standard 5e. books were (imo) trash as far as production values go.
I actually had to sort through 2 stores entire stock to find ones with strait bindings, and no other physical flaws. I must have looked through twenty books. My opinion comes through my experience and will not change though others tout 5e. books as great. 
If they (premiums) were produced: I would be looking for sewn in bindings and not perfect binding, better quality paper and inks, and a better quality cover. So- perhaps.
For 3.5 and 4th I own the normal and the special editions.
the 4th special edition was not worth it as it was just the same book in a fancy cover.
the 3.5 special had all of the PHB errata there was at that point aplied in it, making it a nice recource to have at leat 1 copy at a gaming table.
But 5th is moving slower when it comes to errata and changes.
So if they do a special edition that does include errata it might be better to do it a bit further in the lifespan of 5th editon.