Even though I'm a figure collector, twice today, I've had the thought that I think I prefer the concept art, over the figures/dolls. It's very odd.
The first example, I understand, because I'm not into "fashion dolls". I didn't even know the category of Barbies and Bratz, etc. were called "fashion dolls" until this video essay: "Misogyny in the DOLL COMMUNITY?!" by SAVY WRITES BOOKS; https://youtu.be/JT9IkuKAKa4?si=NSOiVytgW1566e-D. But it makes sense. And categories are convenient.
In this video, the doll company showed some of the illustrations and concept art used as the base designs for the dolls, and I couldn't help but think that I would have liked an artbook of all those illustrations, more than the dolls. Which was a very weird thought for a figure collector. Even if I'm not into dolls, I still prefer articulated figures over static figures, which is very close to dolls. And yet, I thought those illustrations were more collectible than the dolls, at least to me. lol
I don't know why, but my eyes are drawn more to the concept art of these Miku figures, instead of the photos of these Miku figures. Maybe it's just cleaner and more clear. But it does align with how I've always preferred 2-dimensional art, over 3D and realism.