Jeff, for me it is actually about liking a watch and not about coveting it's scarcity. Without having much to say about the actual watch here I think the rarity of the 1st execution 2446 is now crazily driving up values of various knackered old dirty watches and 1st execution Autavias are over rated simply because of their perceived scarcity.

I buy watches because they appeal, doesn't matter whether they are scarce or plentiful, and, let's be honest, if I can also afford them. 2446 1st executions, good or bad, are now well out of my target range but their rarity really does not make the watch any more attractive to me.
Frankly the third execution 2446 to me has always offered a much cleaner dial and handset, is simply a nicer looking watch and also seems to be a lot easier to find in a reasonable used condition. To admit bias I do currently own a nice third execution 2446 but even this is always second wrist choice to an early Eggshell dial Carrera, my absolute favourite Heuer which would still probably not be considered anything like as valuable as any 2446 screwback. Going on my personal Autavia taste I would quite probably, given the chance, swap the 2446 for a late execution 2446C which, while it may not be as "collectable", actually has more appeal to me than any 2446 screw back due to the heft of that compressor case, those red dial accents and fluted pushers...

But each to their own as always

Tony