Cool, I was like this a couple of years ago when trying to buy VIII, I would be very particular about the condition of things I buy and never wanted to risk buying them from ebay when they would say "few minor scratches" etc.
but I was in a market in Birmingham uk, were they sold everything, clothes etc. .. and i came across a stall that sold old used ps1 games, and over in the back behind the till i spotted a double case ps1 game but couldn't make it out, so i asked the guy would it by any chance be a finalfantasy, he said yes and reluctantly sold it to me for 15 quid, and it was in absolute IMMACULATE condition, I reckon he had it in his secret/reserved pile and so I was very lucky to stumble across it like that... pity the same wouldn't happen to you Michael with VII