RickR

Also, having been collecting Atari since 1993 I was used to hunting down and collecting NOS / MIB games still sealed. I usually got these at Kay-Bee Toys, Sears Outlet, @Video 61 or ordering from Atari directly. Lynx games came from Toys R Us and Babbage's. I treated games the same way I did baseball cards, I'd always try to buy TWO of everything, if not three. One new one to open, one new one to put away and keep sealed. If I bought a third, that would always be to put away sealed to save for a potential trade someday in the future. I'm still that way. I DO open brand new Atari games if it's the first in my collection and I'm going to be playing it for the rest of my life. Once I have duplicates, I ENJOY having them sit on the shelf. I love pulling them out and looking at them, looking at the box, looking through catalogs, appreciating the artwork and feeling the original retail experience that we used to feel buying these games. And of course I put a few away for future giveaways. This works for me and this is the approach that brings me happiness. Whatever makes you HAPPY is what I recommend, other people's ideas of what you should be doing don't really matter as long as you love what you're doing and enjoy your collection to the max.

Right on, brother. 

I got these sets for a song on ebay and let them sit in the garage for a week while I thought about it.  This little shelf is right above my main desk.  Now that I work from home, I look at it every day.  Seeing these little ships will bring happiness for sure. 

I have that same issue with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars.  Some of them you just have to open.