> > Artifact degradation is all about pissed off
people in the future,
> > because you used the things to death.
>
... But not running them is all about pissed-off people now.
Generally you will be left with the carcass of the machine, which is all you
have if you don't use the machine. In many cases the use of the machine
means that it will be better preserved as the mechanical parts will be oiled
and lubricated...
I think you have to consider wht damage could be done. And that depeneds
-- a lot -- on the artefact. A vitage aeroplane is likely to be totally
destroyed if it crashes, so you probably don't want to fly it very often.
A vitage car, used on public roads is at the mercy of other drivers, but
used on a test track it's a lot less likely to get wrecked. So you might
well consider doing the latter from time to time. In the case of a vitage
computer or peripjheral, it's very unlikely that failure would totally
destroy it. Yiu would still have the unit looking as it should do, even
if an irreplaceable IC failed. And in that start it can still be
displayed, bot not run. You might as well run it while you can.
-tony