Yeah, I know the benefits, but wonder whether it is actually useful picking up 1 or 2 over NVs. (or spare 2s once NV runs out, but that is probably too late).
Right, but in that case, there wouldn't be many swindlers out. I mean the swindler player isn't going to waste $4-5 on a NV right? There's no real way outside of markets, to grab multiple NVs.
Thus, the only time you're seriously fighting for NV is if 2 people (maybe 1?) are vying for the same strategy. In that case, yeah NVs are scarce and SC aren't a priority. However in these situations, SC aren't going to be that helpful (fewer swindlers around) anyways.
In short, I think times where you want to spend all to get every single NV and times you want to grab a couple SC are two different games that don't co-exist all that often.