Absolutely right. People do collect for their own reason, that's why I said 'IMO'.
What I kind of object to is people who buy something just because it's rare. Yes, they can of course, it's their right. But if they've bought something they don't even want, just to say they have it and that no one else can, well, I don't see the point.
thbear (and other Steelbook openers) - when I was a kid I used to collect Garbage Pail Kids (among other things) and me and my best buddy at the time were on a mission to get all of them. I got all of them in the end and they are all in pristine condition (Yes, I do still have them stashed away

). My buddy, who I still speak to once in a while, wishes he still had all his instead of sticking them to his cupboard doors and bedhead when he was a kid.
We both collected the same thing in 2 very different ways. There was no right or wrong, just preference. And we both had fun collecting them.
Steels are my current version of that. The original HMV artwork of Captain America is GPK 1a and the re-release artwork from Zavvi will be 1b. And they will all stay sealed because that's me and that'show I like to collect. Always have
To object to the way a fellow collector collects is not looking at the bigger picture. You don't see many folk who keep their steels sealed complaining about others who open theirs. But when I tell someone I keep mine sealed I get asked loads of questions about why and I get judged or branded. I still don't understand why but it doesn't bother me one bit anyway so no harm.
At the end of the day we are mostly all on this forum now because we share a passion for the same thing. Thank god we all have different tastes because it would get boring quite fast if we were all the same. Just because the next person collects in a different way don't let that concern you or bother you, just accept them for who they are and what they bring to the same hobby that you enjoy.
To your point about cars, give me a classic any day of the week. And I wish they would bring out Garbage Pail Kids Steelbooks too
DB - hopefully I kept this on topic enough for it not to be moved
