We had World Book when I was a kid. Couldn't afford Brittanica, but the folks insisted on have a set of encyclopedias in the house. We got the yearbooks all the way into the 70s. They were very handy and evry through in subject matter, if not always in content. It was a start, and quite often, enough to serve the purpose.
Didn't get Brittanica for our kids because the digital revolution was already underway. Got them Encarta ever year and Google instead. Again, purposes served.
Always wanted a set of Brittanica because our pastor had a set in his office, and while I was waiting in his office after confirmation class while my dad attended Elder's meetings and stuff like that, I'd use them for homework and dug the shit out of them. Outstanding, they were, simply outstanding.
Oh well...