See, this is what happens when collectors start poking
their noses
into hobbies that were once inexpensive. Prices start to go up and
then only the collectors with deep pockets filled with money that
comes loose from them too easily...
You have just described the evolution of every hobby that involves
collecting something. EVERY hobby - even ones as odd as collecting barbed
wire, McDonald's promotions, flagpole finials, ice cream scoops, and
airline timetables.
...who are more interested in long-term
profits than fun, can afford the toys.
I am really getting sick and tired of people that think that the rich
collectors are ONLY in it for the money. A HUGE MAJORITY ARE NOT. I have
repeated this over and over again on this list, but SOME PEOPLE JUST DON'T
GET IT. I personally know quite a few off the big rollers in the computer
and radio collecting fields and VERY few are looking at collecting as an
investment. They love the radios and machines just as much as everyone
else - just MAYBE they WORKED A LITTLE HARDER to grow their collection.
Convincing people that this equipment might be
_wanted_ by some
people, and convincing them to let hobbyists preserve it for good
reason, would be the better solution than making them think it has
some ridiculously high value.
Money talks. Its a basic rule of life.
William Donzelli
aw288(a)osfn.org