Virtual Console or Physical Cartridge?

Frankly i'v often pondered this myself
 
I never had a GBC so for me the Crystal VC was a nice way to go play through original gen 2 =D
I did originally prefer physical games over digital games though.... but nowadays I don't really have much of a preference anymore.
(don't tell my steam library.... the games would be hurt =o)
 
i prefer the actual cartridge, however it's nice to just have them downloaded on my 3DS and i'm easily able to trade without having to drag out multiple consoles and a link cable. i like the feel and authenticity of the cartridges on their original hardware, but the ease of accessing it on the 3DS is also really nice. pros and cons to both.
 
I use Virtual Console just because it's cheaper and easier to access. But I prefer having physical copies of games. Not sure why, it's just nice to own them. So I'd love to play a physical copy of Gen 1, 2, or 3. But I don't have a Gameboy or DS with a GBA slot, so Virtual Console it is for Gen 1-2, and not playing Gen 3 since I'm not really an emulator person.
 
virtual console!

i think the biggest problem with physical for me is that older pokemon games are expensive to get if you don't own them, anymore. :c and since i don't own a large portion of older pokemon games, virtual console is a more accessible option for me. of course, this is largely referring to gen 1 and 2. dunno what im going to do about gen 3, and i already own plat for gen 4, and i own bw2 for gen 5 so i'm pretty set there. c:
 
I can go with both, I feel as though they both have positives and negatives. A positive for the virtual consoles is that they are on newer consoles which means (backlight), you don't need to worry or dread when your battery in the cartage will run out (though that does take a WHILE), a negative the Virtual consoles have compared to the physical copies is that it is only virtual, if you wanna play the game you wanna play, like Pokémon Red or Gold you have to play on that device you downloaded it on, while with the physical copies you can play on yours, your friends or anyones console with your save data. And if you are a collector or just prefer to have a physical copy it is definitely nice to have a case for your game to display.
 
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For the same reason as VisionofMilotic, I prefer the Virtual Console - being able to transfer to Bank is a huge plus. I personally haven't done this yet, but I like having that option.
 
Ever since I heard in a Youtube video that auto-save can corrupt or erase save data in SWSH I've felt more secure with cartridges and in regards to first and second gens, there is a special nostalgia with the thick chunks of plastic the original handhelds were both cartridges and Gameboy color alike.

I have very fond memories of simultaneously playing through Silver and Gold with my best friend (I Silver and her Gold) including mystery gift and link cable activities and hooking them up to the Stadium games.
Precious memories which were lost when my Silver cartridge died and at the time I was barely aware that was possible. I hadn't even touched it for at least 3 months and the day I turned it on again the 'continue' option was just gone.

Granted it lasted 7 years (2001-2007) which is two more than the average which I believe was 5-years and despite that, I admittedly Gameshark it at one point, I actually don't feel I could trust a gen one or two cartridge again.
That aside, the Gameboy's time ended a long time ago, it's not in style anymore, and as such that stuff is uncommon.

Therefore in the case of gen one and two, in this day and age I'd go virtual. I do in fact have a virtual copy of Silver on my 3DS that I've barely started because I'm shiny resetting Cyndaquil but got distracted by other games. I do want to return to that, however.
The only reason I might buy a gen one or two cartridge on Amazon is out of hope that I'd end up with a dope hack but knowing my luck I doubt I would.
 
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