I'm not sure I'd keep either of these in a small collection. Either are fun for a while. I've owned 2 CVs (both gone for good) and still have my 2nd SS.

Both games are fun for a bit, and both are generally over-rated imo. I like Scared Stiff better than CV though. SS's only weakness really is the shallow depth of the rules that are fairly quick to progress through. If there was a bit more depth, it would be a top-ten 90s game. Yes, I know about spider multiball but that's just a chore and a bore to try to get to and more of a novelty than a proper Wizard mode (ala Lyman's Lament on MB, which is funny and clever but not something you really try for). CV has a unique layout and some good stackability but the overuse of the ringmaster gets a bit grindy. The real game killer though are the video mode(s) and the "canon" in the backbox. Just painful.

Have you played Indianapolis 500? Very similar playfield to Scared Stiff but with great rules. Cheaper too!