A solo routine is a complete reason
Original Tamagotchi does not have a communication function. That can be an advantage of the choice when what you want is your own small care routine, with no expectation of arranging a second device for social play. It is not missing an activity you never intended to use.
Choose the generation as well as the shell. Bandai says Original generations have different characters and mini games. If Gen 1 is the intended experience, do not let an attractive Gen 2 or Gen 3 decoration stand in for that decision.
Connection adds something specific to do together
Revived Connection still has feeding, cleaning and other care, but its infrared activities add visits, games and gift exchange between devices. The how-to also describes mini games that earn Gotchi Points and items to collect. These give a pair of owners more to do than compare the decoration on their shells.
That makes Connection the more purposeful choice when another person has a compatible current Connection and the shared activities are part of the attraction. Without that person or second device, consider whether the additional solo activities themselves are what you want.
A childhood device may not be the partner
The current Connection FAQ explicitly excludes connection to products sold in the 2000s. It also excludes other models such as Uni and Original. Buying a revival to reunite it with a childhood device therefore does not create the documented connection play.
The useful choice is straightforward: Original Gen 1 for the particular solo care experience you want, or the revived Connection for its own care and a known compatible pairing. Shared nostalgia is not the same as shared communication hardware.
Sources & further reading
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