Not trying to call you out or anything Larry, like I said more so just a rant. To me, your the exception as you unlike most of these other younger video game collectors, actually know wtf your talking about, that kind of respect to the industry I admire. I watch some of these youtube videos and see some teens doing game hunting videos where they buy games and I hear "oh, never heard of this game, oh well lets get it" I would be willing to bet they just get them to get them yet never play them lol.
I suppose its the same scenario as most anything else, I mentioned music and while I wasn't born in or was young in certain decades I really enjoy the music.
What I am getting at I guess is does anyone think that this is just the fad currently or something that will continue to progress and get even more inflated?
I was like that with some games. I built up my collection from Goodwill, Tag Sales, and that Video Store. I have never heard of a lot of the games I get, but buy them anyway, judging by the box art, but most of them I like. Games like Gods, Lagoon, Castle Quest, Robopon Sun Version and Space Station Silicone Valley. Even the ones I do not like get played occasionally. I had a lot of fun playing Karate Champ for the NES. I got It at Goodwill and when I got home, a freind called asking to come over, when he did we tried out the game in 2P mode. We just busted out laughing when the first match ended with one hit. I even got some play time out of Fisher Price I Can Remember & Perfect Fit, and Sesame Street 123 with a few friends. The think I love about blind buys is just having a new experience. May not be good, but its still fun and there are very few games I regret buying, I think the most disappointing blind buy was Ping Pals for DS I got it for $0.50 at a Tag Sale, there is no game play, Its Pictochat.
I have quite a few friends who are into retro collecting too, so there are more people like me. One has a copy of Earthbound, not sure where he got it, but most likely not on line for 100$.
With the music part, I think you can tell my taste in music.

I got luckey and met a woman in a record store who was trying to trade in her vinyl collection, but he was not taking it. She ended up giving 6 full crates of albums to me, with many good albums including a japan copy of Led Zeppelin 3.
I lucked out and got my current copy at a Goodwill for $3.
I got mine with Super Mario Kart and Mario Paint for $10 or $20 form some guy in my school, SMW is very worn, but the other two are in great condition.