Items like this are often disregarded or thrown away simply because they no longer serve there intended purpose. Yeah, we can look at this (real or fake), and think WOW, what a great piece of history. At the time, it was taking up space, and to those around it, it was considered trash once the deal fell through.
Items like this turn up in all kinds of odd and weird places(and not just video games, but collectibles in general). Didn't they find a SEGA Neptune at a flea market years ago? It was one of only two to have been found I believe. Some times these items in up with staff, friends, who the hell knows and all places inbetween. I'm a collector, and if I died tomorrow, my family wouldn't know what half the shit I have is worth, or probably care. It could all be donated, trashed, or sold. Items of this nature can soon be forgotten relics, especially once the original owners begin to die off.
I'm sure just like it has been stated, that these devices where created for trade shows, and the like to show what may happen in the future(promotional tools mostly), and once those shows end, sometimes there is no clear plan in place on where items of this nature should end up. Sometimes they are very well tracked and accounted for, and sometimes not. So maybe it's real, maybe it's not. Either way I have no funds to buy it, and I'm sure outside of maybe a unique boot up screen, it probably won't offer much in the way of what the hardware may have come to offer, but we'll see.
For now, it's a nice piece of history until proven to not be.
Chris
