Depends... Yes, Fontaine are rare and that keeps their price high, but a lot friends ask me why they're so special? Personally, I love the design. Their simple look is professional, subtle, and they have an almost "turn of the century" look to them. Take that combined with how well they handle during sleight of hand, and I have a perfect deck of cards! I don't do much cardistry, so I can't speak on that behalf, but seeing what people can do with them doesn't surprise me. I always buy Fontaine in 2's because I like to leave one in the packaging. I'm also a collector and I have all except the Guess Fontaine. I'd certainly recommend Fontaine to anyone with the extra cash and looking for a nice deck.