I find that there might be as many people who speculate that a steel won't go up in value, as people who speculate that it will go up in value. Thats the problem with collecting grails in any form. You don't know which one it is, until it gets bidded up to crazy prices. Once it hits crazy prices, I find that people speculate that it will go down (not up) in prices. They keep on telling themselves theres no way I'm paying this or that, but the grail keeps going up and up, to a point where, only a very select few can ever afford it. Thats why its incredibly hard to collect grails. You won't know, until it hits ya, and when it hits you, it hits like Thor's hammer. Then you convince yourself that it cannot rise any further, but on the contrary, it goes up and up to a point where you can no longer afford it.
It happened to me. I also collect Magic the Gathering cards. back in the mid 90's, I saw the holy grail for $80 in a card shop. Didn't buy it, because I couldn't fathom anyone paying $80 for a playing card. Instead, I bought 6 packs of cards, which never amounted to anything. 5 years later, a buddy of mine had one, wanted $400 for it. I laughed in his face, told him to take a hike. 10 years later, saw that same card bidded up to $2000+. Flabergasted that anyone was stupid enough to pay $2000 for a playing card. 3 months ago, that card sold for $6500 on ebay. At this point, it really doesn't matter what I think anymore. It is far far beyond anything I can ever hope to get. Sure, I tell myself it has maxed out, but what I think is irrelevant. This lesson I learned, and it greatly influence how I collect steels. I learned that there is only a very small window for you to acquire grails (of any type of collectible). When this window shuts, it slams shut, and you will never get in again....ever.
