Ehh, much like the term "rookie" card, the definition of a "master set" is now muddled.
Take for example Topps Heritage. A master set could be all of the base + SP's and the insert sets, as you brought up.
You could add the Real One auto set, along with the memorabilia cards (Clubhouse Collection?) and call it a master set.
Or, you could go with all the color swaps, throwback uniforms, intentional errors, gum damage backs, blue ink backs, traded notations, photo variations, Venezuelan backs, etc, along with the red auto set, all the chrome and refractor sets (including the gold /5's), the Target red border retail set, I think Walmart had a black set as well, the gold /50 game used set, the dual and triple auto sets, ad panel box toppers, promos, hell you could add the 5x7 jumbo team sets sold on Topps.com....call it a master pain in the ass.
The answer should definitely change not just pre- to post- war, but for each year and each set. A true "master" set of Bowman Chrome would include every parallel, including Superfractors. That's impossible, since not every Super will be pulled and/or sold publicly.
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