What do I collect?

Good question. The short answer is whatever strikes my fancy. The longer answer has evolved in the past two years.

Initially, I was going to stick to oldies but goodies, but my difficulty in tracking down a decent vintage copy of Ram or Band on the Run led me to also buy new. And once you do that, a spiffy rerelease looks awfully appealing. Then, you start scanning the Record Store Day lists. Next thing you know, you start thinking, "well, this is only seven bucks. I've never heard of this artist, but only seven bucks, so why not?"

There are people with opinions on this pressing is better than that pressing, and I'm sure they're at least partly correct, but my modest (but better than bare bones) system isn't going to highlight those nuances. I get it, but on the other hand, I'll buy a modern, non-audiophile repress of a 60s soul record. Finding an original in the appropriate condition is difficult enough, and while I do have disposable income, I am price-sensitive. I'm buying these to listen to them. As I told some guy last year in line for Black Friday Record Store Day, this is a hobby, not an investment plan. That's what mutual funds are for.