Awesome topic. It's a SIIIY question, but I never thought of it. Thanks for asking, I look forward to reading!
What is that "rubber band" thing!? Does it mean anything? It made me think of a car tyre, and the swimming pool. It was cool enough to answer thusly.
I story by various systems -- surplus (un)commons, surplus rares, DDC, TDC, MSC.
I use too many abbreviations, sorry -- bit I'll explain them. Hold your horses!
And I wasn't sure about what info you are looking for exactly, so I wrote it all down. I hope it's of use!
MSC - master singles collection. only 1 unique image, preferably the least common (or otherwise the nicest); thus, Scotty is in it twice; the WB warp pack version, and the AI with tribble. 2PG WBs go in instead of BB counterparts. SBs only go in when no WB or BB available.
sorted on type, subtype, affiliation. (I like to browse e.g., all Klingons, or all Missions -- not all of a certain set, like "today I'll browse Q Continuum". And I know I'll never complete all sets, so I'd rather do it like this. Never met anybody else who did, though.)
personnnel, I sort on classifications, then staffing ability.
all in binders, sleeved in side loaders (I've seen never-used cards chafed because I seemingly browsed my binders too enthusiastically!
).
DDC - all doubles up to a certain amount that I think I'd ever use simultaneously across all decks. Say, 16 AU Doors, but 4 Hirogen Outposts, since I won't be making more than 1 Hirogen deck. personnel and unique ships go in only once. this way, I can see which personnel are not yet in any deck, and which are. For fun / diversity. I actually track my use -- play -- of all cards, in a modified version of Boffo's spreadsheets. I am very proud if I can add counts for
Calloway or
plasma fire. Having fun with such cards during "Impuse Speed" and/or teaching games is half of my STCCG fun. OK, well, 25%.
Of these DDCs, at lest the first copy is side-loaded to prevent chafing, coz these - and all below -
go in plastic boxes, with 2-row custom carton inlays. Also, any unique series/set version is side-sleeved (e.g., the BB Scotty; or a SB that is in MSC binder as WB). all SBs are sleeved anyway.
I take great care that I have, overall, WB94 and 95, even though only one 9f those (or the BB) goes into the master binders. At least one of each year is sleeved, but usually almost all, because PAQ cards have different coating that chafes even more easily.
BTW, I'd love to sort everything to alphabet, but haven't got around to it yet.
TDC - tertiary deck collection. all personnel and unique ships above the first copy (which is in DDC). Not for small affiliations.
Decks - made from DDC and TDC. I pick un-side-sleeved copied first, and sidesleeve them; decks fully double-sleeved. I use SB cards from DDC/TDC if I need them. But I prefer WB, since image is crisper.
surplus (un)commons - give-away / backing material. I also make my "Impulse Speed" and surplus/travel decks from these, so I won't have to spend time punishing people (or buy cards and build new decks) when flight luggage goes missing. Then again, financially and coronaically, I'll never be able to fly again, probably
surplus rares - trade material, goes into a binder.