Initially I created a list of my Top 50 with a Top 10 included in which I really wanted to secure and keep forever. I wanted to have at least 1 of each personality, but I let species overlap. I wanted to like their design mostly.
My Top 10 were - Henry, Colton, Roscoe, Reneigh, Pecan, Poppy, Sheldon, Beau, Bianca, and Leonardo.
As time went and I ran low on tickets during hunts and never found villagers, my group became some mixture of villagers from that list and others I settled on along the way or liked while hunting.
It was something like - Henry, Colton, Reneigh, Sheldon, Wolfgang, Pierce, Molly, Freya, Peanut, and Filbert (only 4 being the old Top 10)
And at that point it was getting to where I was debating if I had settled and will remain as is with no more hunts But I ended up deciding to try for villagers I had initially really wanted and dropped Molly to being hunting once again. At this point I ended up realizing I want to cycle through more villagers and just kept at this pace. I hunt mostly off of design, but I also want to experience at least one of every species at some point. I've let personality balance fall while I do this, as I don't want to turn down my top pick for a species simply cause I'm lacking a personality and potentially suffer from never seeing them again. Though this has also lead me to very imbalanced gender and personality ratios! But it's fine as I'm still cycling through villagers and it'll balance out down the line.
Current Roster - Henry, Reneigh, Pierce, Sheldon, Groucho, Jacques, Rex, Bud, Sherb, and Gala. (only 3 of old Top 10)
With 8 males and 2 females, I clearly lack some personalities and it does bother me. But I'm having fun taking in who I take in and knowing the hunt will begin again later on and maybe it'll fill out a bit better. Henry, Pierce, and Reneigh are permanent. Groucho, Jacques, and Gala are possibly permanent. Everyone else I'm leaning towards letting them go at some point to continue spicing up my roster with villagers that I really like the design of or villagers that help check off another species I never had before.
I haven't had - Anteater, Penguin, Mouse, Hamster, Rabbit, Bull, Tiger, Elephant, Ostrich, and Octopus
Once I went through all of those and more of the villagers I always kind of wanted, I'll probably end up having a few spots that I'll have to switch out and get old favorites back with for when and if I do settle down to a permanent 10.