Touché, albeit I have tried this method and at times I have ended up not cancelling due to a steelbook being sold out and living myself stuck financially. Like have you any idea how hard it is to cancel an already sold out steelbook? Knowing you will not have the chance to get it again, while also bearing in mind you cannot afford the steelbook at this time in your life. Then there are the times when the money is taken earlier than expected and you don't cancel in time and it's like **** I wasn't expecting the money to go that quickly. The original post was satirical and not meant in bad form. But it also has an underlying theme that not everything is black and white when it comes to 'just pre-order and worry later.' I love collecting steelbooks and I started before I had other life commitments and many more work hours, but it's hard to simply stop. I am a moment where I have to pick and choose, and choose wisely. However I failed to pull the trigger in time on this one. You live and learn.
I have all of my pre-orders listed in a spreadsheet, ordered by release date. I have 2 columns that calculate the days remaining until release, and the days remaining +7 days and I use this +7 days column to act as a min threshold for cancellation so I know if that column is at zero, I have 7 days before release and should really make the decision to cancel now in case the retailer takes the payment in the next day or so.
For example my steel at the top at the moment is Place Beyond The Pines, the release date is 5th August so I am making the decision today whether to cancel or keep it in place.