I picked up a lot of my collection before the craze hit. I remember years ago getting about 40 boxed sets like Ashes, Return to ToEE, etc, from a book dealer in Michigan for $100. I imagine the rares will be worth even more with every year that goes by. For every collector that drops out, seven more pop up, and there are finite amounts of things like ST1, brown boxes, etc.
My goal has always been to have one of the largest/most diverse RPG collections out there, and I think I did pretty well. Time to let others enjoy them.

Like Frank and the Burnts, I picked the vast majority of my collections either as it came out or way before the collection craze hit and way before ebay was even an idea.

All I can say is that I really doubt I would start collecting in this market. Not only are mint or near mint copies pricey, they are getting really hard to find. It seems that today's idea of near mint was yesterday's good. It would definately turn me off.

I can also say that I would not be buying the big money rares. Just too much for my blood at $1000 a pop for the holy trinity and $2000k for a 1st print woody, etc...