I like this perspective. I think it applies well to many things we collect.
I've been collecting fountain pens for more than a decade now and I've observed that new collectors end up buying their "trophy" pen only to have it remain uninked and kept in a drawer someplace. It's only a few more years later, when another "trophy" is inevitably collected, that both pens see use.
Similar story with watch-collectors - some people buy their grail, then leave it in a safe.
There's a big mismatch between people who have "pristine" watches, and those that have seen life and suffered the inevitable scratches, dents, and damage.
Yeah. I love watches but I decided I'm not going down that road. That's why I wear just a Casio. Though admittedly it's a $1600 titanium Casio with DLC coating and sapphire glass.. but it's still just a quartz watch and in the grand scheme of things not a huge deal if it gets dented or smashed. Wear it every day, everywhere. Really the only thing I regret about it is the integrated bracelet. Can't replace it with a cheap nato strap when the pins fall off and links vanish in snow.
I've been collecting fountain pens for more than a decade now and I've observed that new collectors end up buying their "trophy" pen only to have it remain uninked and kept in a drawer someplace. It's only a few more years later, when another "trophy" is inevitably collected, that both pens see use.