>> These aren't collectors items. That's in the eye of the beholder. I don't think cars, stamps, watches or baseball cards are collectors items, but the slight

>> These aren't collectors items. That's in the eye of the beholder. I don't think cars, stamps, watches or baseball cards are collectors items, but the slightest imperfection in any of them is a tragedy to some people. I don't think a lot of people out there "collect" devices, but the same instincts apply. A watch actually might be a fairly good analogy here. When you pay hundreds of dollars for a shiny, shiny device, it's natural to want to keep it in its mint state. The primary difference is related to, of course, the original topic - watches just get extra care, devices get plastic wrap put on them. I would attribute this to the fact that watches are generally inert, and can be chosen for an occasion. A device, for many people, is something that's always carried and is frequently set down, picked up, manipulated and pocketed. Additionally, device screens are precise, touch-sensitive instruments with increasingly high resolution. A small scratch in the right place can substantially diminish the experience.