I have only been collecting for a short time, but already I feel like it maybe time to stop. It just feels like the magic has been lost already, I mean for christs sake see how many titles Zavvi have knocked out of late, gods knows how many more before the year is out, just releasing any old title willy nilly. I remember when play stopped trading alot of people thought that was doomsday for the steel, but it has been quite the opposite.
Price is a huge factor for me, £17.99 should be the max a steel book should be IMHO, this £20+ is a joke now, but as long as people are ready and willing to dip there hands in there pockets and shell out these prices (for fear of missing out) then prices will only go one way. I don't blame the company's, it is simple supply and demand, and you cannot blame them for milking it, nor scalpers for making a tidy buck. A fool and his money are easily parted after all.
It is all to easy to get wrapped up in the hype around these (Exclusive) steels, especially if you are a newcomer to the game (like me).
Some try to justify price, "yeah but it is embossed/debossed, must be worth it" no, I do not buy into for a second. At the end of the day it is a thin wrap of metal, with a plastic tray with a disc inside, with some fancy artwork on it. Quality street can manage to supply you with a Embossed tin full of chocolate for a fiver, make of that what you will.
Anyway, had to get that off my chest