I'm torn on whether I want to budget money for the new release by Viz, since they're supposed to do the entire run.

IMO the character designs in the manga made it look dreamy and wispy and fanciful, which works on a still medium. Not so much in anime, unless you're CLAMP, and then you'd have to add a crapload of details. :) And Marmalade Boy was published at around the same time (don't remember when Kodomo no Omocha was out), so it makes sense to connect it to Sailor Moon.