The third paragraph of the Macintosh Performa Wiki has some information of interest. I personally disagree with the author's consensus in the 3rd sentence of paragraph-3 and feel that the reasons for the Performa line's failure is more accurately spelling out in the 5th and 6th sentences. I always felt the Performa brand was an Apple marketing gimmick.
But as Equill points out, the hardware of the Performa 200 and the "Classic II" is largely the same. I wouldn't say though that you would be buying more "value" by getting a Performa 200 versus a Classic II merely due to the lack of inherent value in that "Performa" name. However, most people who buy Classics or Classic II's on EBAY really don't buy those models for reasons of "value" as they are less in value than other compacts like a stock 128k or Plus or SE/30. That's why Classics sell for such low prices versus other compacts on EBAY. But if you're buying for the sake of just playing with an old B&W Mac, then there's nothing that need stop you from picking up even a Performa 200.
But as Equill points out, the hardware of the Performa 200 and the "Classic II" is largely the same. I wouldn't say though that you would be buying more "value" by getting a Performa 200 versus a Classic II merely due to the lack of inherent value in that "Performa" name. However, most people who buy Classics or Classic II's on EBAY really don't buy those models for reasons of "value" as they are less in value than other compacts like a stock 128k or Plus or SE/30. That's why Classics sell for such low prices versus other compacts on EBAY. But if you're buying for the sake of just playing with an old B&W Mac, then there's nothing that need stop you from picking up even a Performa 200.