Well the Banned Bonds were Criterion preservations. They have the Criterion logos and extras plus the slightly different color timings and 1.85 framing that was the Criterion print source.

It's possible to find the Criterions Bonds for cheap every once in a while. I personally don't have any but it's not going to stack up to the Connery Collection which had the benefit of newer technology, better equipment, better source materials and correct 1.66:1 framing.

As far as Criterion CLV versus CAV goes, I think it really depends on if you want the extras. I have the Criterion North By Northwest CLV edition and while it lacks the extras of the CAV box, it does have a digital mono track (the only high quality release IIRC.) whereas the CAV doesn't. I have the CAV Criterion boxes of 2001 and It's a Wonderful Life. Picture quality is good all around, but it's mainly going to depend on the print source and date the LD was manufactured. I think you might get a slightly more stable and defined image from CAV if you have the combination of good disc and good equipment. I really haven't noticed much of a difference. PQ is good all around on my Criterion LDs, but they are older discs and as FF had mentioned Criterion seemed to have started by getting well worn prints to use from studios.

In short, the Criterion Bonds make a nice curio with their different coloring and framing but have excellent extras. They resemble what the films would have looked like in revivals at the time. The 89 MGM LD series didn't get around to these 3 until after the Connery Collection came out, so I think that those single releases are just the same discs released individually.