What I had tied up in money, was cases of ammo and $150-200 (the cheaper barrels werent around then) barrels sitting on a shelf, never getting used, or likely to be used. Luckily for me, 40 and 357SIG used the same mags, for the most part, so that wasnt an issue.
If I bought 20 .40 trade-ins, and then a barrel for each of them, Id still be in the same boat as I was before, and now throw the extra mags into the mix. Ammo, barrels, and mags just sitting there, not getting use, or likely to see it. I could see maybe one or two barrels and a case or two of ammo, maybe, but its still just going to sit, and knowing that its not likey ever going to get used, just annoys me.
Yea, I can see the versatility, to a point, but for me, the reality of it just didnt work that way, and I still dont see it happening.
If you think its going to work for you, by all means, have at it. I just wouldnt get to carried away first, until you see how it goes, and how you end up investing.
I ditched 357 SIG, along with those cases of .40 and barrels I had for them as back up, about a decade ago, and went back to 9mm. Turned it all into plenty of 9mm guns, tons of mags, and tons of ammo (the fact that the cases of 357SIG ammo I had more than doubled from when I bought it didnt hurt either
), so I doubt it would be an issue for me, even if everything dried up today. Not in my lifetime anyway, or even my kids.