I think a lot of people have preferences for things that have meaning to them. I know for me that there are some items that I feel like I must have and others that I could care less about. I kind of pick them up as they come up. But I do think there are some items that, while they would be fun to have in my town, I can do without because I can't bring myself to buy the donuts or they just were before my time.
Not really any point in obsessing over something I can't have, but on the other hand it's a treat when they are re-offered and they were things that I would have liked to have (Come on, Mapple Store! :D )